Poppy Bank

Thank you to Karen Pearlman of the San Diego Business Journal for featuring Poppy Bank's recent growth in San Diego. We are thrilled that our Scripps Ranch location is now open, and we look forward to adding two more branches in downtown San Diego and La Mesa in the coming year. As mentioned in the article, we proudly opened our first branch in 2005?with a focus on providing tailored products and services to support local businesses. Now nearing our 20th?anniversary, we are thrilled to be located in more than 30 branches throughout the state, with?ten?more locations planned for 2025. President and CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, says, “Each city, town, and community comes with its own set of economic challenges and because we are ingrained in these locations, we have the privilege of further understanding their true needs and providing creative solutions. We prioritize serving underserved organizations and small businesses that may struggle to find resources from bigger banks and larger financial institutions.” Check out the full article to learn more about how Poppy Bank has partnered with EVERFI, a financial literacy program developer, to incorporate a financial literacy curriculum into all San Diego high schools at no cost. Come visit us at one of our San Diego branches soon!?

When Poppy Bank learned the The Press Democrat was spearheading a campaign to give the editor, John D'Anna, the bird — and also raise money for the Redwood Empire Food Bank to help feed families in need, we were eager to support. Who doesn't love a two-for-one Black Friday deal — and have a few choice words for the man behind the pen!? ? All jokes aside - the holidays can be a financially challenging time and many in our community continue to struggle with food insecurities. Because of this, Poppy Bank was honored to donate 500 turkeys to the important cause. Now, we?are calling on our local businesses and community members to join us in reaching our goal of raising another $10,000 for families in need this holiday season. ? President & CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, says, “The holidays are a time to express gratitude and to give back. There is no better way show our commitment to our community than by giving to those in need. Everyone should have the opportunity to gather with loved ones and share a special meal this season. We hope this contribution encourages our community to join in on the spirit of giving and exceed the goal of raising $75,000 to feed Sonoma County.” ? The Poppy Bank team was honored to present a $12,500 donation to Editor John D’Anna and CEO & Publisher Eric Johnston of the Press Democrat and President & CEO Allison Goodwin and Marketing Director Rachelle Mesheau of the Redwood Empire Food Bank. We are deeply passionate about supporting the REFB mission to “feed our neighbors in need and lead the community to end hunger.”? ? To learn more about how you can join us in feeding our community this holiday season, visit refb.org/givethebird. ? #RedwoodEmpireFoodBank #GivetheEditortheBird

A New Chapter in My 30-Year Journey of Lending As I reflect on the past three decades in residential and consumer lending, I am filled with gratitude for the knowledge, experience, and insights I’ve gained along the way. Most importantly, I have developed a deep appreciation for the wisdom that comes from observing an industry that is ripe for transformation. Lending is ready to be done differently — and that’s exactly what I intend to help build. I am excited to share that I’ve joined Poppy Bank to embark on the next phase of my journey. Together, we will work to create a lending division that complements Poppy Bank’s already successful banking culture, while supporting their strategy for growth and expansion across California. Over the next few months, we will be focused on building innovative programs, optimizing operations, and developing a sales approach that will allow us to better serve our customers and meet the goals of the bank. As I look forward to this new challenge, I am reminded of the 3 C’s of Life: Choice, Chance, and Change. The truth is, you must make a choice and take a chance if you want anything in life to change. I’ve chosen to take this next step, and I’m excited to see where it leads. Stay tuned for more updates as we build, innovate, and move forward together.

Congratulations?to our VP – Marketing Manager,?Karen Serpa, MA, on her five years of service with Poppy Bank. ? Karen?joined Poppy Bank as a marketing strategist shortly after the bank rebranded from First Community Bank. She has been an integral part of creating the Poppy Bank brand, supporting the bank’s growth into 15 new markets, launching nationwide campaigns for online products, and developing the marketing department. ? Along with her passion for providing pro bono consulting services to Poppy Bank’s nonprofit partners, she is also deeply passionate about leading a team — and rebranding the name?Karen. ? Cheers to the most unkaren of the?Karens.

Poppy Bank was thrilled to sponsor the Zillions for The Zones luncheon, where local businesses and community members gathered to view the organization’s brand-new facility and raise money for new and innovative programs for all ages. Poppy Bank has been an avid supporter of The Zones (formerly known as The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Santa Rosa) for years. When we learned there was a need to renovate the building to better meet the needs of the community and expand reach to the local teens, Poppy Bank was happy to provide the $1.3 million in financing. The Safety & Teen Addition Renovation (STAR) Project was intended to bring the needed renovations to the 74-year-old building to better serve the community, including safety upgrades, floor plan modifications, a game room, meeting rooms, music & media studio, classrooms, a professional kitchen, and more. In addition to providing the financing needed to bring this project to fruition, Poppy Bank was happy to make a generous donation to help bring important programs to the facility. Amber Heidtke, CEO of The Zones, says, “Securing a construction loan through Poppy Bank made a potentially overwhelming process simple and straightforward. They took the time to understand The Zones’ unique requirements and timelines, and tailored a loan that perfectly aligned with our vision and budget. We’re grateful for Poppy Bank helping to make our dreams a reality.” Poppy Bank President & CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, says, “The Zones is an essential cornerstone of this community, offering a safe and enriching place for students of all ages including high schoolers to come after school. It is incredibly valuable to have this resource within walking distance of major public schools in the area where students can study, learn new skills, and meet friends in a welcoming and supportive environment. One of the greatest investments we can make is supporting our youth and knowing that we are investing in the next generation of great leaders and innovators.” Thank you to Amber Heidtke and The Zones for your incredible vision and all that you do. We are excited to see the East Santa Rosa community flourish in this new space. #TheZones #TrueCommunityBank #SantaRosa #YouthCenter

Poppywood Night in Southern California was a wonderful event. Poppy Bank employees and their guests enjoyed dinner, trivia, dancing, and many more fun surprises at the Hollywood themed party. It was a special time to come together outside of the office to reconnect and celebrate our incredible accomplishments. In the past five years, Poppy Bank has opened numerous branches throughout California, with many more coming down the pipeline. We received several awards, both locally and nationally, and were just named one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America. Our success is attributed to the hard work and dedication of our incredible people, and we are thrilled to celebrate them not just on this special day, but every day. Thank you to our team for all that you do. #Poppywood

Poppy Bank was joined by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce along with Mayor Phil Brock to celebrate the grand opening of our new Santa Monica Branch location. We are thrilled to join the amazing City of Santa Monica where we look forward to supporting the chamber's mission of building an environment that helps members prosper and succeed through a proactive working partnership with all levels of government and community organizations. Come visit us today at 2729 Wilshire Boulevard — right across the street from the famous Erewhon Market! Branch Operations Officer, Chris Rascón and the entire team are always here to help you exceed your financial goals. #BankLocal #InvestLocal?

***It’s FINALLY here! Poppy Bank Calabasas is Now Open!!! *** We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to City Councilmembers, David Shapiro and Edward Albrecht, as well as to Mayor pro Tem, Peter Kraut and the amazing Calabasas Chamber of Commerce for such an incredible ribbon cutting ceremony and a very warm welcome to the City of Calabasas. President and CEO, Khalid Acheckzai says, “As we continue to expand our reach in Southern California, we are thrilled to establish a branch in the City of Calabasas. This is a tight-knit community with a strong cultural and economic influence. As a community bank with a passion for making a positive difference, Poppy Bank’s business objectives align well with the local community initiatives. We look forward to furthering the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce’s mission to support its members and enhance the business community.” Come visit Poppy Bank Branch Manager, Rita El Hage and her wonderful team at 4732 Commons Way, Suite E. #BankLocal #InvestLocal

Poppy Bank was proud to sponsor Marin Community Clinics’ Tee Up for Community Health Care golf tournament at the Meadow Club. Nathaniel Cartwright, VP—Area Manager and Kimberly Floren, AVP—Branch Manager of Poppy Bank’s San Rafael branch were in attendance, along with several members of the Poppy Bank team to engage with the community and support this amazing cause. Marin Community Clinics is a full-service health care provider with eight clinics across Marin County, offering a wide array of services including primary medical care, dentistry, behavioral health, and several specialty services. Proceeds from the event raised critical funds to support equitable access to health care for nearly 40,000 individuals. Thank you, Marin Community Clinics, for the incredible work you do to “promote health and wellness through excellent, compassionate care for all.” #MarinCommunityClinics #CommunityHealth #MeadowClub

Join us in celebrating the incredible accomplishments of one of our amazing team leaders,?Allie Suazo CRCM,CAMS,CAFP, and her recent promotion to Senior Vice President! President & CEO, Khalid Acheckzai says, “Allie?has done a tremendous job for us since she joined the Bank and has progressively demonstrated a great deal of commitment, technical expertise, and leadership in her role.?Allie?is a significant asset to the Bank and always puts Poppy Bank in the best position for success.” Congratulations,?Allie! We are lucky to have you as one of our amazing leaders. #WomeninBanking #WomenLeaders #WomeninBusiness