Santa Paula Branch Manager Honored

The manager of First Interstate Bank’s Santa Paula office has received the 1995 Chairman’s Community Reinvestment Award.

Lori Barlow-Tashima was honored for her efforts in expanding the bank’s mortgage-assistance program for low- and moderate-income families.

While working as an affordable-mortgage specialist, Barlow-Tashima called on First Interstate branches, real estate agents and developers in Fillmore and Santa Paula, seeking prospective home buyers who would benefit from the assistance program.

Locating a developer whose housing project targeted families eligible for the program, Barlow-Tashima arranged for the bank to become a partner with the city of Fillmore in providing loans and down-payment assistance for the families. First Interstate has since booked loans for more than 60% of the units in the development.

She was one of nine of the bank’s 9,000 California employees honored.

The chairman’s award was created to honor employees whose efforts support the Community Reinvestment Act, which requires banks to provide equal access to credit and other financial services.

Barlow-Tashima joined First Interstate in 1994. She previously was with the Bank of A. Levy, which First Interstate acquired that year.