Five Star Bank Expands Into Southern California Markets
Commercial borrowers in Southern California should watch how Five Star's new leadership and offices affect local lending competition.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People
Five Star Bancorp has appointed Christopher D. Myers to the boards of directors of Five Star Bancorp and Five Star Bank, the company announced on November 4, 2026. The move comes as Five Star Bank adds five banking professionals and expands into Calabasas and Newport Beach, California.
Why it matters
For California business owners, the appointment signals a push by Five Star Bank deeper into Southern California's commercial lending market. Adding a former long-tenured bank CEO to the board suggests the bank is building leadership capacity around growth in the region.
The announcement is a company press release, and the figures cited are drawn from it: CVB Financial Corp. held roughly $11.5 billion in assets when Myers retired in 2020, after nearly 15 years as its president and CEO. Five Star Bank, which operates 10 branches in California, recently added five banking professionals alongside its new Calabasas and Newport Beach offices. The release does not state Five Star's own asset size or the terms of the board appointment.
The players
Five Star Bancorp
Rancho Cordova-based bank holding company whose subsidiary, Five Star Bank, operates ten California branches focused on commercial banking.
Christopher D. Myers
Former president and CEO of CVB Financial Corp. with nearly 15 years leading the company and experience running Citizens Business Bank and Mellon First Business Bank.
CVB Financial Corp.
Southern California bank holding company that held roughly $11.5 billion in assets when Myers retired in 2020.
The details
Myers previously served as president and CEO of CVB Financial Corp. and led Citizens Business Bank, its banking subsidiary, through a period in which Forbes named it the 'Best Bank in America' in 2016 and the 'Best Bank in California' in 2019. Before that he was chairman and CEO of Mellon First Business Bank. Five Star's stated rationale is that his experience will help accelerate growth and expand the bank's market presence across California. He also serves on the board of CoinShares, a digital-asset firm listed on Nasdaq under the symbol CSHR.
Timeline
2016: Forbes names Citizens Business Bank the Best Bank in America under Myers' leadership.
2019: Forbes names Citizens Business Bank the Best Bank in California under Myers' leadership.
2020: Myers retires from CVB Financial Corp.
November 4, 2026: Five Star Bancorp announces Myers' board appointment.
Market Landscape
The move follows Myers' 2020 retirement from CVB Financial Corp., where he had led the company for nearly 15 years. It places an executive with a Southern California banking background on the board of a Northern California-based bank as Five Star extends its footprint into Calabasas and Newport Beach.
Commercial borrowers in Southern California may see Five Star Bank compete more actively for their business as it adds staff and offices in the region. Operators considering a new banking relationship should compare terms across institutions rather than assume any change in lender will follow from this appointment.
The takeaway
The appointment is a leadership signal, not a change in lending terms, so its operating effect will show up only if Five Star's branch growth and loan activity expand in the coming quarters. Business owners can track the bank's California branch count and commercial lending announcements as indicators of how aggressively it is pursuing the region.
Further reading
For more on executive moves and leadership changes across the state, browse the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
