Poppy Bank, the Santa Rosa-based community lender, quietly planted its flag in Novato this week, slipping a new branch into the mix as part of an aggressive push across California. The bank says it plans to reach about 50 branches statewide by the end of 2026 and to add roughly a dozen more locations this year, stretching its footprint beyond the North Bay into Central and Southern California markets.
As reported by The Press Democrat, the Novato branch sits at 140 Vintage Way, Suite G3 and joins recent openings in Millbrae and Santa Barbara. CEO Khalid Acheckzai told the paper that delays in getting some branches open have been tied largely to local permit processes and that the bank is keeping its growth focused within California. According to a call report summary from Visbanking, Poppy Bank’s assets are approaching $7.8 billion.
Where the new branches are headed
Poppy Bank lists several “coming soon” locations around the state, including Fresno/Clovis, downtown San Diego and Palm Desert, and shows planned openings in San Mateo, San Ramon, La Mesa, Rocklin and Hayward. The list makes it clear the bank is targeting both familiar Bay Area territory and inland markets as it broadens its retail footprint.
Branch strategy follows demand
Acheckzai says Poppy’s branch push follows loan demand and aims to build density in existing territories, a point he discussed with The Press Democrat. The move also lines up with a broader revival in branch openings. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition reports the U.S. branch network saw a net gain in the first quarter of 2026 after years of closures.
Local jobs and what customers get
Regulatory summaries from Visbanking put Poppy’s headcount in the high 200s, suggesting the chain’s growth will mean new local hires as branches open. Rate trackers such as SafetyYield show Poppy offering short-term certificates of deposit near 4% in recent months, a yield that could help pull depositors through the doors of its new storefronts.
Permitting and local approvals remain the main variable to watch, so some projected openings could still slip into late 2026. For Santa Rosa and other North Bay communities, the expansion turns a hometown lender into a more visible California player and one worth watching as it converts digital deposit gains into staffed branches.
