Central Valley Community Bank in Fresno is expanding to Bakersfield. CVCB photo

Fresno-based Central Valley Community Bank announced it is expanding into Kern County with a new branch in Bakersfield.

The branch will operate from temporary offices at 5201 California Ave. while a new full-service banking center is completed.

“Expanding our brand of relationship banking further south down the Highway 99 corridor into Bakersfield has long been part of the Company’s strategic plan,” said James J. Kim, president and CEO of Central Valley Community Bank. “Realizing that vision and elevating the client banking experience with an exceptional service team throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento communities is something I’m very proud of.”

The team in Bakersfield will consist of Janet Hepp, senior vice president, market manager; Ryan Leonard, vice president, relationship manager; and Cathy Davies, vice president, private banking officer. The Bakersfield team serves under the leadership of Ken Ramos, executive vice president, market executive.

Hepp brings more than 35 years of Kern County-based financial leadership to Central Valley Community Bank. She is an accomplished senior-level banker and highly-respected manager with a passion for solving financial issues for business clients, according to a news release. She can be reached directly at (661) 246-8999.

Leonard is a skilled commercial lending and credit management executive with over seven years of industry expertise in commercial real estate and industrial financing, as well as experience in team training for credit review and lending efficiencies, according to the release. He can be reached directly at (661) 246-7169.

Davies joins Central Valley Community Bank with over three decades of community and large bank expertise in Kern County, managing and building deposit portfolios. A relationship-focused banker, Davies is a strategic thinker and well-known problem-solver who takes the time to understand the needs and expectations of her clients, according to the release. She can be reached directly at (661) 304-4694.

“We are excited to bring on a team of banking professionals like Janet, Ryan and Cathy who are already focused on enhancing commercial lending and private banking client relationships,” said Ramos, market executive. “The team will be joined by relationship  specialists to manage day-to-day banking needs and will operate from a state-of-the-art Banking Center that follows the opening of our newest locations in Sacramento and Modesto, with a third to open in Visalia’s Downtown in early November.”