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David Brager

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Cvb Financial

Search every verified David Brager interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. David Brager, president and CEO of Citizens Business Bank, discussed his career progression and the bank's strategic focus in an October 2025 interview on the "Forecast in FIVE" program. He noted that his experience starting as a branch manager in 2003 and advancing through roles such as regional manager and executive vice president of the sales division has shaped his leadership approach, keeping him connected to the challenges faced by employees and business clients. Brager also described the bank's emphasis on serving small to medium-sized businesses through a relationship-based delivery model with a single point of contact, stating that the bank is "not trying to be everything to everybody." Regarding technology, Brager said the bank is increasing its technology spending at a rate roughly two to three times its normal expense growth, around 10 percent annually, while aiming to preserve the human connection central to the bank's founding vision. He observed that technological advancements, including AI, are accelerating efforts to create efficiencies and are expected to significantly change customer experiences, though he emphasized the importance of maintaining personal interactions to identify opportunities and uncover client needs.

Recent appearances

  • Forecast in FIVE - David Brager, Citizens Business Bank

    October 28, 2025 · 📺 UCLAAnderson

    Hosted by Seth Katz, the Forecast in 5 features brief interviews with executives representing a number of industries where we make an effort to better understand their roles and how they make decisions within their respective organizations. David Brager serves as the CEO of Citizens Business Bank, a role that he assumed in March of 2020. David has over 3 decades of banking experience with an extensive background in management, commercial lending, business planning, sales and operations. Prior to his promotion to CEO, David served as Executive Vice President of the Sales Division, overseeing a…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • On Growing a California Bank Year After Year // CEO Dave Brager | Ep 35

    November 13, 2024 · 📺 Cornerstone Advisors

    Citizens Business Bank has made money in every single quarter of every single year for more than 47 years. Today on the show, Al and Steve talk to Dave Brager, CEO of Citizens Business Bank and 2022 GonzoBanker of the Year Bank award winner, about the bank’s impressive growth. Among the topics they explore for the $15.4 billion asset bank that a dairy farmer founded: the ability to deliver and lend through all economic cycles, remaining realistic about organic growth strategies and the importance of the talent pipeline. Oh... Al also applauds Dave for his dapper style. #bankingindustry #pod…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →