    bank of the west is a diversified financial services holding company, headquartered in san francisco, california. it is a subsidiary of bnp paribas. the bank has more than 700 branches in the midwest and western united states. ==history== bank of the west began as farmers national gold bank of san jose, california, in 1874. when all bank notes became convertible to gold or silver in 1880, the bank converted from a gold national bank and changed its name to the first national bank of san jose, california. in 1970, banque nationale de paris (bnp) established the french bank of california. later that decade, first national bank of san jose changed its name to bank of the west. in 1979, bnp bought bank of the west and merged in the french bank of california. throughout the 1980s and 1990s, bank of the west bought several other banks and branches. in 1987, bank of the west bought bank of los gatos.bank of los gatos had been founded in 1883. when bank of the west bought it in 1987 it had failed. this was followed by the 1990 purchase of central banking systems; the 1991 purchase of 30 branches in northern california from failed imperial savings and loan; the 1992 purchase of atlantic financial federal savings bank from the resolution trust corporation; the 1993 purchase of 15 branches in northern california from citibank; the 1995 purchase of northbay savings bank, headquartered in petaluma, california; and the 1997 purchase of branches from bank of america and coast federal bank. in 1995, first hawaiian bank established pacific one bank to hold 30 branches in washington, oregon, and idaho tha
BNP_Paribas Banks_based_in_California Companies_based_in_San_Francisco,_California Economy_of_the_Western_United_States Financial_District,_San_Francisco