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 Yvonne Caro, Vice President—SBL Loan Processing Manager, on 10 years of service with Poppy Bank! Yvonne has 28 years of experience in the financial industry and enjoys helping clients realize their dreams of owning or expanding their businesses. Her attention to detail and organizational skills allow her to efficiently serve clients both professionally and personally. Yvonne is passionate about making a positive impact in the community through her work. Following the economic challenges of the pandemic, she was proud to assist several hundred borrowers with their PPP loans and/or loan forgiveness. Yvonne is also involved in her local community, supporting organizations like Life Community Church, Agape International Missions, and World Vision. Congratulations, Yvonne! Thank you for all that you do. #EmployeeAnniversary #WomeninBanking #EmployeeAppreciation

Poppy Bank was a proud sponsor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley’s 33rd Annual Crab Feed, where many local businesses came together to support the important youth programs.   Since its founding, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley has served more than 36,000 children across Napa and American Canyon. The organization's approach is holistic and comprehensive, aiming to provide a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for youth to thrive. By offering programs that focus on five key areas—academics, athletics, the arts, healthy behaviors, and leadership—children are empowered to develop essential life skills, build positive relationships, and become responsible, contributing members of their communities.   As a true community bank, we are committed to making a positive difference in the areas we serve. We are honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley to “inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”   #BoysandGirlsClubs #AfterSchoolProgram #NapaCommunity

Poppy Bank celebrated our 20th anniversary today, marking two decades of growth and community commitment! Since our founding in 2005, we have expanded from a single location in Santa Rosa, California to a statewide bank with approximately $7 Billion in assets. Our geographic footprint includes the San Francisco Bay area, Sacramento area, Greater Los Angeles area, Orange County and the Greater San Diego area. In these 20 years Poppy Bank has grown to one of the largest California-based banks and we will have 45 branch locations by the end of 2025.   Over the past two decades, we have remained committed to our core values of integrity, security, and innovation, establishing ourselves as a trusted partner for thousands of clients. We have proudly garnered national recognition for our success and been named one of the best-performing banks in the nation by American Banker, ICBA and S&P Global.   "We are very proud of what we have accomplished in the last twenty years and the impact we have had," said President and CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, who joined the Bank ten years ago when the Bank was less than a billion in assets. "This milestone and our success and accomplishments are a testament to our dedicated team, loyal clients, and the communities we serve. We are not just a bank; we are an integral part of the communities we serve. While we have much to celebrate, I believe we are just getting started. I am very excited about the next twenty years."   As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to expanding our reach and enhancing our services to meet the evolving needs of our clients and communities. We look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence and community service for many years to come.   #CommunityBank #CaliforniaBank #20Years #FinancialMilestones

Poppy Bank was proud to partner with Anova Center for Education to rebuild its campus following the devastation of the 2017 Tubbs Fire.   For the last six years, the school was operating out of portable classrooms on the lot where the original facility had been. In October of 2023, Poppy Bank provided $15 Million in financing to help the Anova Center build a new school from the ground up. Poppy Bank also committed to donating the loan fee back to the organization, resulting in an additional contribution of $125,000.00 to support this project.   Yesterday, the Poppy Bank team had the honor of visiting the new campus for the first time. The new building includes a beautiful library and several small classrooms for individualized learning and occupational therapy. These spaces also feature sensory elements to help the students re-regulate and prepare their minds for learning.   President and CEO, Khalid Acheckzai, says, “Anova plays an essential role in this community, offering a comprehensive and supportive learning environment to children with autism. We share Anova’s vision of investing in our youth, and we are proud to partner with them to empower and equip the next generation. We are thrilled to see this incredible project come to fruition.”   You can learn more about the new Anova Center in the The Press Democrat’s recent article: https://lnkd.in/eDUfWdNg Thank you to Anova Center for Education for providing specialized care and resources to our community.   #NonprofitPartnership #NeuroDiversity #AutismAwareness #EquityinEducation

Join us in celebrating Casey Ausiello, Vice President—Assistant Controller, on 10 years of service with Poppy Bank! Casey has been with Poppy Bank since the beginning of her career in the financial industry. She is grateful to have grown with Poppy Bank over the last decade, earning several promotions during her tenure. She has been an integral part of the Bank’s exponential growth. Casey’s favorite aspect of her job is the people. She enjoys being a part of the Poppy Bank family and working alongside many talented and hardworking individuals for a common goal. She is involved in her local community and serves as Secretary of Yulupa Elementary’s Alliance of Parents and Teachers board. Congratulations, Casey! Thank you for all that you do. #EmployeeAnniversary #WomeninBanking #EmployeeAppreciation 

Poppy Bank is proud to partner with 10,000 Degrees to teach financial literacy to our youth. Over the last year, Poppy Bank employees have spent several hundred hours volunteering in the organization’s “Money Matters” workshops, which are designed to empower high school students to make informed financial decisions in college and beyond. By educating the youth about financial aid, managing expenses, creating income, and budgeting, we hope to show students that college is possible, and that with hard work and discipline, they can set their goals high and achieve them. It’s incredibly fulfilling to utilize our expertise to inspire, encourage, and equip the next generation to make a positive difference in their communities. We are honored to support 10,000 Degrees as they work towards achieving educational equity. #EducationalEquity #FinancialLiteracy

It's a new year! Protect your finances with financial insights from Poppy Bank.   With the advancement of technology, there has been a rise in fraudulent activities. Be especially wary when emailing, texting, or answering the phone. When in doubt, don’t click on any suspicious links.   Remember that banks will never contact you to ask for your personal information, such as an account number, login information, secure text code, or social security number.   Beware that fraud perpetrators can appear to be calling from your bank, and they often attempt to create a sense of urgency or panic to elicit your confidential information.   If you receive a questionable phone call, just hang up the phone, and contact your bank at a known phone number.    Learn more about how you can identify and protect yourself from financial scams by visiting: https://lnkd.in/ehM_QJnv

Poppy Bank is thrilled to be closing the year with another incredible accolade as Inc. Magazine has just named us Best in Business! The esteemed recognition celebrates organizations and leaders for superior execution across all facets of entrepreneurial business. It is determined by examining an organization’s major accomplishments over the past 18 months and weighing qualities such as innovation and community engagement. Welcoming 10 new branches and thriving despite recent challenges in the banking sector, Poppy Bank has grown in strength and security. We are proud that our innovative solutions to local businesses and nonprofits have garnered the attention of both local and national publications and set the precedent for what’s expected of a true community bank. Over the last 18 months we have been named: · "Best Regional Bank" by SFGATE · One of the Fastest-Growing Companies in the nation by Inc. 5000 · Best Business Bank, Best Company to do Business With in Napa County, and Best Consumer Bank by Northbay biz Magazine · A Top 100 Corporate Philanthropist by San Francisco Business Times · A Top 20 Best Performing Bank in the $2-10 Billion asset class by American Banker · A Top 50 Best Performing Bank with assets between $3-10 Billion by S&P Global · An Exceptional Bank in the 2023 Findley Reports Newsletter · A+ for financial health by DepositAccounts.com In the coming year, we look forward to offering our robust portfolio of products and services in new markets and continuing to support our local businesses. As we continue expanding, we remain committed to serving our local communities and maintaining personal relationships with our clients. Here’s to continued growth in 2025 and beyond. Wishing you all happiness and health in the new year! #IncMagazine #BestinBusiness

Following our contribution to the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s Give the Editor the Bird fundraiser, Poppy Bank was honored to volunteer at one of the distribution sites to see firsthand how our collective impact is helping to end food insecurity within our community. Each Poppy Bank team member was assigned to various stations where we handed out fresh produce, pantry staples, meat, and more via a drive-through style distribution line. It was heartwarming and overwhelming to see such support for families in need. We are grateful to the Redwood Empire Food Bank for their incredible work. Not only are they meeting an essential need, but they are also incredibly well-organized and efficient! It was a joy to serve alongside the hunger relief workers and volunteers where we are reminded yet again of the power of working together for a common goal. Together, we can help end hunger in our community. To learn more or support this wonderful cause visit our friends at www.refb.org. #RedwoodEmpireFoodBank #FoodInsecurity #GiveBack #HungerRelief