Memorial Service Thursday for Founder of Rancho Santa Margarita's First Bank

The man who brought Rancho Santa Margarita its first bank, Thomas E. Yott, will be memorialized Thursday at . Yott died on Nov. 5. He was 59.

At a time when little business existed in RSM, Yott founded his first financial institution, South County Bank, in 1999. Perhaps more impressive, Yott was not a resident of the community, but he saw the potential that existed here.

He later founded Inland Valley Bank and Surf City Bank before retiring to Eagle, Idaho, where he focused on the Boise State football team and watched from afar the New York Yankees and Boston Celtics. Yott was born in Patterson, NJ, before relocating to Riverside at age 9. There he graduated from Notre Dame High before attending UCLA. 

During a nearly 40-year career, Yott touched many lives in the various positions he held, ranging from branch manager, chief credit officer and ultimately president and CEO of the institution he founded, thereby fulfilling a lifelong dream. 

While he stepped aside as president of South County Bank in 2010 due to health concerns, prompting semi-retirement and a move to Idaho, Yott’s beliefs and values shaped the culture of the bank to the point where his presence continued to be felt on a daily basis. A teacher and mentor to much of the current staff, his idea of a bank that serves the community—not by simply providing financial services but by also being actively involved in local charities and organizations—will continue to be realized by South County Bank.

A devout Christian, Yott pledged a large part of his time to charitable organizations, serving as a director of both The United Way and the YMCA while also being very influential in raising funds for the construction of the Bell Tower Regional Community Center in Rancho Santa Margarita which, to this day, is still the home for many community events, classes and projects for southeast Orange County.

A devoted family man and long-time fixture of the Southern California Banking Community, he achieved his professional dream of starting a bank from the ground up and serving as its president. His banking career spanned much of the Southland, stretching from Redlands to Redondo Beach.

He leaves behind his wife Jan, son Logan, daughters Jennifer and Allison along with his recent granddaughter Jaclyn. 

The memorial will take place in the Plaza Room on the Saddleback Church campus beginning at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established by South County Bank.  For more information on how to donate to this fund, contact South County Bank at 949-766-3015.