Montecito Bank & Trust gathered with clients last week for a 50th Anniversary celebration in the bank’s historic downtown branch.

Among the guests were people from the Santa Barbara and Goleta nonprofit communities, local residents and businesses, the bank’s executive leadership, associates and board members.

Attendees shared stories of their early experiences with Montecito Bank & Trust; some recollections from the bank’s early clients, aptly named “Charter Club Clients” dated back to the bank’s opening in 1975.

On March 17, 1975 the Bank of Montecito opened its doors in a double-wide trailer on Coast Village Road in Montecito.

“The founders, including Michael Towbes, Jerry Parent and John O’Keefe, believed their new bank could deliver exceptional and personalized customer service and build lasting relationships while fulfilling the financial needs of the local community,” the bank said.

“Today, while the name has evolved from Bank of Montecito to Montecito Bank & Trust, the bank’s commitment to the founders’ vision has not. Fifty years later, Montecito Bank & Trust is the largest, oldest, locally owned and managed community bank on the Central Coast,” according to bank officials.

Janet Garufis, chairman/CEO, reflected on the bank’s history, its founders and shared some little-known facts, including that the bank’s original downtown location was 1225 State St. in what is now occupied by Arigato Sushi.

“Tonight is about celebrating where we have come from and about thanking all of you who have helped to make Montecito Bank & Trust’s 50 years possible,” Garufis said. “We are so grateful to each of you for your loyalty, for placing your trust in our team, and for continuing to tell your friends and family about the best bank in town.”

Attendees enjoyed raffle prizes to local restaurants and shops, catering from Omni Catering, and local wines from Brander, Dragonette, Sarloos and Sons, and Tensley.

Montecito Bank & Trust is the oldest and largest locally owned community bank in the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Founded in 1975, the bank marked its 50th anniversary on March 17.

The bank operates 13 branch offices in Santa Maria, Solvang, Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Westlake Village.

“Montecito Bank & Trust has a history of unwavering corporate philanthropy in the local communities it serves,” bank officials said.

The bank offers a variety of competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and consumers, including business loans and lines of credit; commercial real estate finance; SBA loans; mortgage loans, consumer loans; credit cards; merchant services; and online services, including mobile banking and cash management.

Its Wealth Management Division provides comprehensive trust services and full investment management for all branch office markets.

Montecito Bank & Trust has earned 32 Best Bank awards in the last 13 years, in addition to accolades for Best Mortgage and Best Financial Services Company in Santa Barbara, Best Investment Company in Santa Ynez Valley, and the fourth Best Bank to Work For in the United States (American Banker Magazine).