[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the honorees at the Goleta Chamber of Commerce’s 70th annual Goleta’s Finest Community Awards Gala, to be held Nov. 23 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara.]
When you’re a bank with “community” in your name, you have a lot to live up to. And Community West Bank — with branches in Old Town Goleta, downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and in San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties — more than steps up to the task.
The bank will be honored by the Goleta Chamber of Commerce on Saturday with the Goleta’s Finest Large Business of the Year Award.
Beyond that recognition, however, Community West Bank is also celebrating its 30-year anniversary. Many bank employees and long-term board members share this major milestone with the bank’s founders.
Community West Bank was established in 1989 as Goleta National Bank, with the intention of serving as a cornerstone to Goleta’s development as a stand-alone community.
Today, the bank is still an independent community-oriented financial institution serving the South Coast, with eight offices and assets exceeding $900 million.
Serving small- to medium-size businesses, professional firms, nonprofit organizations and retail clients, Community West Bank focuses on three core competencies: relationship banking, manufactured housing lending and government guaranteed lending.
Community West Bank’s growth has been impressive. Over the last five years, it has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 10 percent.
And the consistent growth doesn’t stop there. Noteworthy achievements include continued quarter-over-quarter profitability, increased dividends, and four new branch office openings in the past few years.
Community West Bank also has been recognized with the 2019 Premier Findley performance award.
Marty Plourd, the bank’s president and CEO, shares the success of his organization by praising his team.
“This is a team effort,” he said.
— Kate Schwab represents the Goleta Chamber of Commerce.