Wells Fargo announced it promoted Geraud Smith to regional vice president of its Bakersfield Regional Commercial Banking Office (RCBO). He succeeds Ben Hanson, who led the Bakersfield office from 2008 to 2013 and has taken a new post in Wells Fargo’s Credit Administration.

Smith, who since 2010 had been the company’s loan team manager in Bakersfield, now leads Wells Fargo Commercial Banking in the South Valley. His responsibility also includes serving the bank’s large base of food and agribusiness customers in parts of Southern California.

“Wells Fargo is committed to serving the U.S. food and agriculture industry, and we’re recruiting top talent for our specialized lending teams in markets like Bakersfield where our customers live and work,” said Rob Yraceburu, head of the company’s National Food & Agribusiness Division. “Geraud and his team will continue to work with commercial industries in the South Valley while also serving food and agribusiness customers in Southern California.”

A 16-year banking industry veteran, Smith began his career as a financial analyst with Wells Fargo Bank in Fresno. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from California State University, Fresno. Smith is also a graduate of Leadership Bakersfield.