**Exhibit 35**

**SERVICER’S ANNUAL CERTIFICATION**

**MECHANICS BANK**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.10 OFTHE SALE AND SERVICING AGREEMENT**

This Servicer’s Annual Certification is delivered pursuant to a sale and servicingagreement dated as of March 1, 2016 (the “Sale and Servicing Agreement”) by and among, California Republic Auto Receivables Trust 2016-1, California Republic Funding, LLC, Mechanics Bank, as Seller, Servicer, Administrator,Calculation Agent and Custodian (in such capacity, the “Servicer”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall havethe meaning assigned thereto in Appendix A to the Sale and Servicing Agreement. 

The undersigned, a Responsible Officer of theServicer, hereby certifies that: 

1.          A review of the activities of theServicer and of the performance of its obligations under the Sale and Servicing Agreement during the period from March 17, 2016 to and including December 31, 2016 (the “Review Period”) was conducted under my supervision.

2.          Based on my knowledge and such review, except as otherwise disclosedpursuant to paragraph 3 below, the Servicer has fulfilled its obligations under the Sale and Servicing Agreement during the applicable Review Period and there is no significant deficiency known by me with respect to the applicable Review Periodwhich has not been disclosed herein. 

3.          Based on such review, to myknowledge, there has been no significant deficiency during the Review Period in the performance of the Servicer’s obligations under the provisions of the Sale and Servicing Agreement. 

4.          I have reviewed all distribution or servicing reports (the“Reports”) delivered by the Servicer in respect of periods included in the Review Period. 

5.          Based on my knowledge, the information in these Reports, taken as a whole,does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading as of the last day of the applicableReview Period. 

6.          Based on my knowledge, the distribution or servicinginformation required to be provided to the Owner Trustee, Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency by the Servicer under the Sale and Servicing Agreement for inclusion in these Reports is included in these Reports. 

7.          I am responsible for reviewing the activities performed by the Servicerunder the Sale and Servicing Agreement and based upon my knowledge and review, and except as disclosed in this certificate or otherwise in writing, the Servicer has fulfilled its obligations under the Sale and Servicing Agreement. 

8.          To my knowledge, the Servicer has provided all of the reports andcertificates required under the Sale and Servicing Agreement to the parties to which such reports and certificates are required to be provided with respect to the applicable Review Period. 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, in my capacity as specified below, has caused thiscertificate to be executed as of the date indicated below. 

 

Dated: March 30, 2017
  
/s/ John W. DeCero
  
John W. DeCero
  
Chief Executive Officer