Bank of the West has opened new doors in the Golden State, marking the occasion by also hosting BNP Paribas Wealth Management's first program designed for female entrepreneurs.

Bank of the West this week welcomed the inaugural class of BNP Paribas Wealth Management's female entrepreneur program at its new wealth management Center in Palo Alto, CA.

The new wealth center adds to the bank's existing locations in San Jose, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Indian Wells, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Pasadena (CA), and in Omaha, NE; Overland Park, KS; and Denver, CO. 

The 24 women in the program come from the US, France, Italy, Belgium, Hong Kong and Singapore, and will attend a one-week certification program at Stanford University. After the event, they will take classes examining strategic leadership and team engagement, among other topics, with Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty members.

“These women lead international and fast-growing businesses, and each of their companies employ different strategies to adapt and grow with their home markets,” said Sofia Merlo, co-head of BNP Paribas Wealth Management.

Bank of the West is among a host of other firms that are ramping up their focus on the role of women in the industry, on an advisor and client level.

Bank of the West Wealth Management, part of BNP Paribas' global wealth management business, provides wealth planning, investment management personal banking and trust services.