Union Bank welcomes new branch manager

When Bay Federal Credit Union closed its Westside Santa Cruz Branch last fall, Janene Adema thought she would be hunting high and low for a job.
But when Adema, the branch manager, started looking for a new position, she was quickly hired to manage the Union Bank branch in Felton.
The 30-year Scotts Valley resident was pleased to be able to stay in the area.
“I feel so blessed, because with the economy and banking in Santa Cruz, I thought I was probably going to have to go over the hill to find another branch manager position,” she said.
Adema, a banker since 1990, has been a Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce board member, a Santa Cruz Rotary Club member and a Hospice of Santa Cruz bereavement counselor for years.
She has already met with the Felton Business Association and said she looks forward to working in the Felton community.
“I’m one of those people that believe in trying to give back,” Adema said.
She joined the bank Nov. 1 and met customers and awarded prizes during a customer appreciation day Jan. 15.
Winners included Judy Ford, Susan Rexrode, P.J. Warner, John Masterman, Jennifer Meyer and Nathaniel Johnson. Each received various gifts provided by Felton merchants and businesses.
Union Bank has 337 branches, Adema said, mostly in California, Oregon, Washington and Texas, as well as two international offices.