SAN DIEGO — Quietly and with a shroud of secrecy, Joe Hildreth, president of troubled First Western Bank, has left his position, although it remains unclear whether he resigned or was fired.
John Riedel, the bank's senior vice president and loan administrator who now is serving as interim president, confirmed Thursday that Hildreth's last day on the job was last Friday.
Riedel declined to discuss details of Hildreth's departure, however, and referred all inquiries to board Chairman James Hildreth, who is the former president's first cousin.
James Hildreth could not be reached for comment.
The bank has assets of $8.4 million and a net worth of $770,000, according to Riedel. However, the net worth includes $800,000 in proceeds from a public stock offering completed last month.
