Poppy Bank

As we reflect on the past year, we are beyond thrilled to celebrate Poppy Bank’s President and CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, who has just been named one of the Bay Area’s Biggest Newsmakers by the San Francisco Business Times! The Newsmaker 100 list is an esteemed award highlighting those making a real impact within the community. Under Acheckzai’s leadership, Poppy Bank has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Orange County Register, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, American Banker, and many more. The Bank has been named Best Business Bank by Northbay biz Magazine , Best Places to Work by North Bay Business Journal, Best Regional Bank by SFGATE, a Top Corporate Philanthropist by San Francisco Business Times, Best in Business by Inc. Magazine, and one of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies by Inc. 5000. With seven years under his belt as President & CEO, Poppy Bank has grown to over $6.6 billion in assets, more than quadrupling its size from when Acheckzai began his leadership role. Since then, the bank has opened 21 new branches and continues to remain strong through the evolving landscape of the financial industry -- and in a time when many banks are closing their doors. In a recent interview, Acheckzai stated, “The secret to our success is our people.” We strongly believe the secret to our success begins with our leadership. Under Acheckzai, Poppy Bank’s culture, drive, innovation, and resolve have flourished. We are grateful to have a chief who leads by example and takes action to make a positive difference whenever possible. Thank you, Khalid, for your commitment to the community and those working to make it a better place. We are beyond proud to celebrate this recognition with you. #CommunityBank #Leadership #MostPowerfulPeople

Join us in celebrating Dennard Atkinson, Senior New Accounts/Customer Service Representative III, on 5 years of service with Poppy Bank! Dennard has nearly 10 years of experience in the financial industry and has worked at several of Poppy Bank’s Bay Area branches over the years. He is an incredible support to everyone on the Poppy Bank team. His favorite aspect of banking is building long-lasting relationships with clients and supporting their financial goals. Congratulations, Dennard! Thank you for all that you do. #EmployeeAnniversary #EmployeeAppreciation

Poppy Bank got into the holiday spirit today with our annual Ugly Holiday Sweater contest. Many of our departments decorated for the occasion, making our office spaces extra merry and bright. There were many creative and over-the-top sweaters, it was hard to choose a winner!   In keeping with tradition, all eligible employees received their annual year-end bonus and in addition, all Poppy Bank employees received a $300 Target gift card to help with their holiday shopping.   We are grateful to celebrate another year of giving with our Poppy Bank family. The holiday season is about giving back, and there is no better time to show our appreciation for our hardworking and dedicated employees.   Happy Holidays from our family to yours.   #HolidaySpirit #CompanyCulture #TistheSeason

Thanks to Kennedy Zak of Los Angeles Business Journal for covering Poppy Bank’s rapid growth in LA County! Poppy Bank recently celebrated the grand opening of our Calabasas branch, followed by Santa Monica opening just a week later. We are also excited to announce the Pasadena branch location will be opening soon. President and CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, discusses strategic growth plans with expansion into the Thousand Oaks, Manhattan Beach, Brea, Newport Beach and Santa Barbara communities in the near future. You can read the full article here. #BankLocal #InvestLocal

Poppy Bank was honored to sponsor Northern California Center for Well-Being’s annual Celebration of Dreams gala. This monumental night brought together the organization’s clinical and community programs, along with devoted community leaders, partners, and donors to celebrate thirty years of serving the community. Each year, Northern California Center for Well-Being serves more than 25,000 individuals through medical nutrition therapy, cardiac rehab, family and senior health education, tobacco prevention, school-based physical activity, and more. Proceeds from the event went to offset the cost for these essential programs, ensuring care for all, regardless of the ability to pay. We are proud to support Northern California Center for Well-Being’s mission to “improve the health and well-being of our community through evidence-based health practices and innovative programs that advance health and equity for all.” #CenterForWellBeing #HealthEquityforAll #CommunityHealth

Poppy Bank sponsored the Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance’s Annual Economic Forecast event, held at the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum. We had the opportunity to host a booth at the business expo and share about our excellent products and services with businesses, community members, and local government officials. It was also a great opportunity to hear about new developments in the City of Alameda. Thank you to keynote speakers Malia Cohen, California State Controller and Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer. It was inspiring to hear how each of these women stepped into their influential roles and how they continue to protect and steward our state’s financial resources. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, and it continues to grow. According to Malia Cohen, our annual state revenue for 2024 is expected to reach $207 Billion, which is an 8.9% increase compared to last year. We would also like to thank all the speakers who participated in the economic panel including: · Joe Ernst, Principal, srmErnst Development Partners · Adam Elsesser, Chief Executive Officer, Penumbra, Inc. · Joann Guitarte, Small Business Expert · Gia Schneider, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Natel Energy · Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Chancellor, Peralta Community College District · Abby Thorne-Lyman, Director of Base Reuse and Economic Development, City of Alameda We enjoyed the candid and engaging conversation about the state’s finances, economic influences, market trends, and the latest developments in Alameda. Topics of conversation included: · The evolving landscape of how AI is changing job functions and the economy · The need for more housing with the rising cost of living · The importance of creating and keeping jobs in Alameda · Keeping sustainability at the forefront of new developments Thank you to all the wonderful panelists for sharing important insights about our local economy and how we can continue to grow. We are already looking forward to next year’s event. #AlamedaEconomicForecast #AlamedaChamber #AlamedaBiz #BusinessGrowth

When Poppy Bank learned the The Press Democrat was spearheading a campaign to give the editor, John D'Anna, the bird — and also raise money for the Redwood Empire Food Bank to help feed families in need, we were eager to support. Who doesn't love a two-for-one Black Friday deal — and have a few choice words for the man behind the pen!    All jokes aside - the holidays can be a financially challenging time and many in our community continue to struggle with food insecurities. Because of this, Poppy Bank was honored to donate 500 turkeys to the important cause. Now, we are calling on our local businesses and community members to join us in reaching our goal of raising another $10,000 for families in need this holiday season.   President & CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, says, “The holidays are a time to express gratitude and to give back. There is no better way show our commitment to our community than by giving to those in need. Everyone should have the opportunity to gather with loved ones and share a special meal this season. We hope this contribution encourages our community to join in on the spirit of giving and exceed the goal of raising $75,000 to feed Sonoma County.”   The Poppy Bank team was honored to present a $12,500 donation to Editor John D’Anna and CEO & Publisher Eric Johnston of the Press Democrat and President & CEO Allison Goodwin and Marketing Director Rachelle Mesheau of the Redwood Empire Food Bank. We are deeply passionate about supporting the REFB mission to “feed our neighbors in need and lead the community to end hunger.”    To learn more about how you can join us in feeding our community this holiday season, visit refb.org/givethebird.   #RedwoodEmpireFoodBank #GivetheEditortheBird

A New Chapter in My 30-Year Journey of Lending As I reflect on the past three decades in residential and consumer lending, I am filled with gratitude for the knowledge, experience, and insights I’ve gained along the way. Most importantly, I have developed a deep appreciation for the wisdom that comes from observing an industry that is ripe for transformation. Lending is ready to be done differently — and that’s exactly what I intend to help build. I am excited to share that I’ve joined Poppy Bank to embark on the next phase of my journey. Together, we will work to create a lending division that complements Poppy Bank’s already successful banking culture, while supporting their strategy for growth and expansion across California. Over the next few months, we will be focused on building innovative programs, optimizing operations, and developing a sales approach that will allow us to better serve our customers and meet the goals of the bank. As I look forward to this new challenge, I am reminded of the 3 C’s of Life: Choice, Chance, and Change. The truth is, you must make a choice and take a chance if you want anything in life to change. I’ve chosen to take this next step, and I’m excited to see where it leads. Stay tuned for more updates as we build, innovate, and move forward together.

Congratulations to our VP – Marketing Manager, Karen Serpa, MA, on her five years of service with Poppy Bank.   Karen joined Poppy Bank as a marketing strategist shortly after the bank rebranded from First Community Bank. She has been an integral part of creating the Poppy Bank brand, supporting the bank’s growth into 15 new markets, launching nationwide campaigns for online products, and developing the marketing department.   Along with her passion for providing pro bono consulting services to Poppy Bank’s nonprofit partners, she is also deeply passionate about leading a team — and rebranding the name Karen.   Cheers to the most unkaren of the Karens.

Poppy Bank was thrilled to sponsor the Zillions for The Zones luncheon, where local businesses and community members gathered to view the organization’s brand-new facility and raise money for new and innovative programs for all ages. Poppy Bank has been an avid supporter of The Zones (formerly known as The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Santa Rosa) for years. When we learned there was a need to renovate the building to better meet the needs of the community and expand reach to the local teens, Poppy Bank was happy to provide the $1.3 million in financing. The Safety & Teen Addition Renovation (STAR) Project was intended to bring the needed renovations to the 74-year-old building to better serve the community, including safety upgrades, floor plan modifications, a game room, meeting rooms, music & media studio, classrooms, a professional kitchen, and more. In addition to providing the financing needed to bring this project to fruition, Poppy Bank was happy to make a generous donation to help bring important programs to the facility. Amber Heidtke, CEO of The Zones, says, “Securing a construction loan through Poppy Bank made a potentially overwhelming process simple and straightforward. They took the time to understand The Zones’ unique requirements and timelines, and tailored a loan that perfectly aligned with our vision and budget. We’re grateful for Poppy Bank helping to make our dreams a reality.” Poppy Bank President & CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, says, “The Zones is an essential cornerstone of this community, offering a safe and enriching place for students of all ages including high schoolers to come after school. It is incredibly valuable to have this resource within walking distance of major public schools in the area where students can study, learn new skills, and meet friends in a welcoming and supportive environment. One of the greatest investments we can make is supporting our youth and knowing that we are investing in the next generation of great leaders and innovators.” Thank you to Amber Heidtke and The Zones for your incredible vision and all that you do. We are excited to see the East Santa Rosa community flourish in this new space. #TheZones #TrueCommunityBank #SantaRosa #YouthCenter