BEST COMPANY IN NAPA COUNTY AND BEST BUSINESS BANK
C ongratulations to Poppy Bank, which keeps its winning streak alive with two category victories this year (as well as two second- place gold awards in other categories). It’s been voted Best Business Bank in this readers’ poll every year since 2022. “We understand that no two businesses are the same and there is no one-size- fits-all approach to serving our clients,” says President and CEO Khalid Acheckzai. “Poppy Bank is invested in the success of our local business community. We take pride in listening to our clients and tailoring solutions to support each business’ unique needs and goals.” Poppy Bank offers a robust portfolio of products and services including checking and savings accounts, certificate of deposit accounts, lines of credit, merchant services and more. Its treasury management team works with business clients to structure and design comprehensive and competitive By Alex Russell P OPPY BANK
Poppy Bank is 46 branches strong and growing
difference in the communities we serve.” Among these are North Bay Boys & Girls Clubs, indoor sports facility Poppy Bank Epicenter and Anova (a school for autistic youth). Working with Marin-based 10,000 Degrees, it provides financial literacy education at the Los Guilicos Teen Center in Kenwood. “We have a required minimum of annual volunteer hours for our employees,” says Acheckzai. “But so many [of them] go way beyond that.” He draws a parallel between this level of commitment and the bank’s reputation for service: “It would be impossible for us to be successful without strong employee engagement. “We support our employees with team building and benefits programs, but it’s more than that. It’s how we treat them day-to-day that establishes the level of service and respect they bring to client engagement.” It’s clearly working. Poppy Bank is 5-star rated by BauerFinancial, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating firm and is recognized as one of the strongest financial institutions in the country. It’s also been ranked as one of the best-performing banks in the nation by Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). There’s that word again: community. And it’s not just lip service— it’s part of the bank’s mission statement: “[Poppy Bank exists] to meet the banking needs of our clients and to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.” In addition to organizations already mentioned, Poppy Bank also supports Redwood Empire Food Bank, American Heart Association, Council on Aging, Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, YMCA, YWCA and others. “Thanks for your support,” says Acheckzai to NorthBay biz readers. “It reinforces our commitment to building a stronger community.” v
plans to ensure efficiency. The lending team excels at working with clients to find creative solutions to maximize cash flow and support business growth. The first branch of Poppy Bank opened in downtown Santa Rosa in January 2005 (back then, it was known as First Community Bank). In the years since, it’s expanded across the state and, by the end of 2025, will boast a total of 46 branches. Poppy Bank also has loan production offices in Northern and Southern California as well as Nevada, Arizona and Texas. With $7 billion in assets, it’s the largest North Bay-based financial institution. Despite its size, says
Acheckzai, “you can always be a community bank if branches focus
on their local communities.”
According to its
website, Poppy Bank partners with strong local nonprofits and organizations— particularly ones benefiting children—to “make a positive
Khalid Acheckzai, president and CEO
poppy.bank
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Best of the North Bay 2025
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