More than 140 Oxnard community leaders and business members gathered with Montecito Bank & Trust (MB&T) associates on Jan. 25 for a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration of the bank’s 16th full-service branch at 300 W. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard.
MB&T, the largest locally owned community bank on the Central Coast, established roots in Ventura County nearly 20 years ago with the opening of its Westlake branch, later expanding to Ventura and Camarillo.
“With our existing local ties, partnerships and client base, Oxnard is the natural progression for expanding our Ventura County presence,” said Janet Garufis, CEO/chairman.
“Bringing our local expertise, reputation for world-class service and unique corporate philanthropy programs to this community demonstrates MB&T’s nearly 49-year commitment to making the communities we serve better places to live and work,” she said.
The celebration also included recognition of four local nonprofit organizations for their work in the Oxnard community. Representatives from each organization were in attendance and each received a check for $2,500.
- Oxnard College Foundation
- Oxnard Performing Arts Center
- Rescue Mission Alliance
- Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation
Armando Casillas, vice president/branch manager, who was born and raised in Oxnard, leads MB&T’s locally based, bilingual team which has been active in Oxnard and the surrounding areas for 71 years.
“Expanding our Montecito Bank & Trust footprint in my hometown of Oxnard is a dream come true,” Casillas said. “It is an honor for me and my team to welcome and to continue building partnerships with the residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations of Oxnard now that our doors are officially open.”
“Montecito Bank & Trust associates are a reflection of the communities they serve and there is no better team than this to deliver our brand of friendly, approachable, and personalized service to the Oxnard community,” said George Leis, president/COO.
Leis, Garufis and the Oxnard team were joined by Andrew Kiefer, chair of the West Ventura County Business Alliance; Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long; Oxnard Mayor John Zaragoza for the ribbon cutting.
“I truly believe in the way we do business and I’m impressed every day by the work our associates do,” Garufis said in closing out the event. “I am confident that this team will welcome you with warm smiles and the world class experience we pride ourselves on.”
The Oxnard bank branch is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The location also houses MB&T’s Residential Lending division, offering mortgages, home equity lines of credit, construction loans, manufactured home loans, and VA loans.