Fowler's United Security Bank building, photo by Daniel Parra on Facebook

Bucking a trend of bank closures — many by national institutions — Fresno-based United Security Bank has opened a new office in a small community.

United Security Bank opened a new branch last week in Fowler at 119 S. 6th St. Dennis Woods, president and CEO of United Security Bank, said the mission of the bank is to reach out to the underserved and unserved.

A Bank of America in Fowler closed years ago, said Fowler Mayor Daniel Parra on a social media post.

With the opening of this United Security Bank branch, Woods pointed out that Fowler once again has a bank location in town. United Security Bank is similarly the only bank branch in the towns of Carruthers and Mendota, Woods added.

He acknowledged these community branches aren’t a home run for profits, but they are important for serving the employees of the bank’s larger business customers.

“These small communities are the workforce for large businesses — big farmers and developers,” Woods said.

The new Fowler branch is staffed by three people and represents United Security Bank’s 13th branch.