California-based bank holding companies Community West Bancshares and United Security Bancshares have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. 

Community West Bancshares is the parent organisation of Community West Bank, and United Security Bancshares is the parent of United Security Bank. 

Under the agreement, United Security Bank will merge with Community West Bank, following the merger of United Security Bancshares with Community West Bancshares. 

Community West Bancshares and Community West Bank will be surviving entities. 

This merger will combine United Security Bank’s branches in Fresno, Madera, Kern, San Joaquin and Santa Clara Counties with Community West Bank’s existing banking centres across 12 Central California counties. 

United Security Bancshares’ shareholders will receive 0.4520 shares of Community West Bancshares common stock for each United Security Bancshares share held. 

Based on Community West Bancshares’ closing share price of $24.06 as of 16 December 2025, the transaction is valued at approximately $191.9m in total, which equates to $10.88 for each United Security Bancshares common share. 

The deal has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors for both firms. 

This transaction is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Upon completion of the merger, the combined company is expected to have total assets of about $5bn. 

Community West Bancshares shareholders will own around 70.6% of the outstanding shares of the merged company, with United Security Bancshares shareholders holding the remaining 29.4%. 

The combined company will be led by the current Community West Bancshares board and Community West Bank executive management team. 

Community West Bancshares CEO and Community West Bank CEO and president James Kim will continue to lead this executive team. 

Kim said: “This merger represents a major step forward in our long-term growth strategy and our commitment to the communities we serve throughout Central California. 

“Both institutions share a strong, long-term foundation of relationship banking, local decision-making and responsible growth. 

“By bringing our organisations together, we are creating a more robust and more visible banking franchise, with greater depth of expertise, expanded resources and enhanced capacity to support businesses, families and communities. At the same time, we expect the combination to further deliver lasting value to our shareholders.” 

The new board will include existing Community West Bancshares directors, two current United Security Bancshares directors and another member to be appointed after completion of the deal.  

United Security Bancshares and United Security Bank president, CEO and board chairman Dennis Woods will assume the role of chairman emeritus for the combined company. 

Woods said: “Joining with Community West Bank is a natural partnership for our bank, our clients and our employees. 

“With shared values and cultures centred on integrity, personal service and community commitment, this combination strengthens our ability to serve with greater scale, expanded lending capacity and broader market reach. 

“Together, we are creating new opportunities for our clients, enhanced career paths for our employees and a stronger banking franchise across Central California.” 

This is the seventh acquisition for Community West Bancshares, which recently completed an acquisition and adopted its current name in April 2024. 

Otteson Shapiro served as legal counsel and Janney Montgomery Scott acted as financial advisor to Community West Bancshares, which also provided a fairness opinion to its board. 

Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor to United Security Bancshares and delivered a fairness opinion to its board, while Stuart Moore Staub acted as legal counsel.