Community West Bancshares and United Security Bancshares Complete California Merger to Form $5 Billion Bank

Community West Bancshares and United Security Bancshares have completed their previously announced merger, effective 31 March 2026, forming a combined community banking institution with approximately $5 billion in total assets. The transaction, announced in December 2025 and approved by the FDIC, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in March 2026, and by shareholders of both companies on 30 March 2026, creates a combined bank with full-service banking centres in 13 counties serving 31 communities; at announcement the companies said the combined bank would be the market-leading community bank in Fresno County, with a deposit share of more than 12%.

United Security Bank has merged into Community West Bank, the surviving bank, which retains the banking offices of both predecessor institutions, with a systems conversion planned for summer 2026.

SCALE IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Chief executive James J. Kim said the merger "strengthens our ability to invest in our Central California communities, expand lending capacity, and deliver enhanced solutions to our clients."

According to the companies' merger presentation, the combined bank's deposits in Fresno County will exceed $2.3 billion, a market share of more than 12% that places it behind only the money-centre banks in the county.

James J. Kim is chief executive and president of the combined company, Daniel J. Doyle is chairman and Jagroop "Jay" Gill is vice chairman; the board has 14 directors, 12 from Community West and two from United Security.

INTEGRATION AND CLIENT CONTINUITY

"We are now focused on thoughtful integration and ensuring a seamless experience for clients as we move toward a planned systems conversion in the summer of 2026," Kim said.

United Security shareholders receive 0.4520 Community West shares for each share held, valuing the transaction at about $185.5 million at completion; it is Community West Bancshares' seventh acquisition.