American Riviera Bank Opens New Location in Santa Maria

News item February 1, 2023 by American Riviera Bank

American Riviera Bank is proud to announce the opening of its most recent location in Santa Maria, California. This new commercial banking center will meet the diverse banking needs of a region experiencing rapid economic and community growth. Products and services will support businesses, retail operations, mortgage and more. As the leading Small Business Administration Loan (SBA) lender in the region, American Riviera Bank helps small businesses expand and run their operations, leveraging a shared understanding of the unique needs of local businesses and the communities they serve.

Santa Maria has seen tremendous growth in recent decades. With a 40.1% increase in population over the past 19 years, Santa Maria has surpassed Santa Barbara as the most populous city in the county, according to the California Department of Finance and U.S. Census Bureau. The area continues to experience a significant increase in business operations, construction, and population, making it a hub for economic and community activity. Nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base continues to generate a significant number of employment opportunities, leading to an increased demand for housing and attracting more small businesses to the surrounding area. City officials are planning to add 16,000 new housing units to accommodate more than 50,000 additional residents by 2040 (Santa Maria Times).

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We recognize Santa Maria’s importance to the Central Coast’s economy and identity. We are thrilled to support this growth and development by offering true community banking opportunities that will support the ongoing expansion of the region.

Jeff DeVine, President and CEO of American Riviera Bank Attribution

Mark Fugate, Charter Brokerage & Investment Co. owner, shares, “I’m very pleased to welcome American Riviera Bank to Santa Maria. I have worked with a number of ARB staff and lenders for some years now, and they understand that community banking is all about meeting the banking and lending needs of our unique local businesses, large and small. These are folks with deep roots in the Central Coast who are experts in SBA, business and consumer lending.”

American Riviera Bank’s new commercial banking center in Santa Maria will provide loan options for individuals looking to open new businesses, expand current operations, build or renovate homes, and more. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of American Riviera Bank, Joanne Funari, understands the impact of banking business support by stating, “It’s important to us that Santa Maria has ready access to the #1 SBA lender in the region and our amazing commercial lending teams. Our team can make an immediate impact for clients using their extensive expertise, strong community relationships, and entrepreneurial mindset.”

American Riviera Bank has assembled a team of established experts to manage the new location including Marian Lavagnino, Renee Howard, Scott Bell, and Mark Ingoglia.

Marian Lavagnino joins ARB as Vice President and Banking Relationship Officer. She has 40 years of Community and Bank Operations experience in the Santa Maria Valley, having worked with Mid-State, Rabobank, and Mechanics. Marian and her family have deep roots in the area, as her father-in-law was the Mayor of Santa Maria for several years and her husband currently serves as the 5th district supervisor, representing the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe.

Renee Howard, Vice President and SBA Manager, began her banking career as a teller over 20 years ago, but quickly transitioned to SBA and discovered her passion for helping small business owners operate and grow.

Scott Bell, Vice President and SBA Business Development Officer, brings almost three decades of experience in SBA lending. He focuses on creating and fostering relationships with local business clients to get a thorough understanding of their commercial real estate needs and offers them customized SBA financial services. Scott has funded over $100MM in SBA financing throughout the years.

Mark Ingoglia, Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer, uses his 15+ years of experience in commercial banking to provide trusted expertise and commercial banking solutions to corporations, business owners, and commercial property investors. Mark works closely with clients in delivering tailored value based financial solutions to achieve their financial goals.

This new location, led by a team that combines industry expertise with a network of resources, will serve as a community and banking partner to its clients. As Alex Simas, founder of Kirk & Simas Law firm in Santa Maria, shares about the opening, “Community banks are the lubricant that make local small businesses hum. American Riviera Bank is well run and focused on the parts of our economy that make Santa Maria work for everyone. They will be a great addition to our community.”

The Bank’s newest location opens Monday, February 6, at 2605 Miller Street, Suite 108, in downtown Santa Maria.