Union Bank opened its first full-service branch in Sonoma on Monday, bringing new life to the historic old bank building at 500 Broadway.
“This is a very exciting time in the evolution of Union Bank’s service to its customers and the community,” said Vice President and Branch Manager Molly Fedorchak.
Through three existing offices in the North Bay, Union Bank has served customers in Sonoma for several years, providing commercial loans and project financing to small businesses and large corporations in specialized industries, such as wine and commercial real estate.
“Opening this Sonoma branch is a natural outgrowth for Union Bank, which has a rich history of connecting Sonoma County residents with a full range of financial services,” Fedorchak said. “Our longstanding relationships with customers are most important to us.”
To manage the new Sonoma office, Union Bank has built a team of veteran bankers with local ties to the community. In addition to Fedorchak, the staff includes Private Bank Manager Tim Warren; Priority Banking Manager Ulku Barrett; Financial Services Officer Amanda Koura; Operations Assistant Bernadette Aquino; Customer Service Manager Pam Larson, and Customer Service Specialist Belinda Baron – each with 10-20 years working experience in Sonoma.
Two seasoned Union Bank mortgage consultants – Louis Sbarra and Brenda Walker – have also been assigned to serve clients in the new office.
“I am very pleased to commemorate this historic occasion and celebrate the strength and resilience not only of Union Bank, but also the City of Sonoma,” said Sonoma Mayor Steve Barbose. “This building is one of our community’s many valuable landmarks, and it helps us remember that we have survived and thrived during challenging times of great change.”
Union Bank is committed to improving the quality of life across the North Bay region that it has served for nearly 150 years, Fedorchak said. She explained that the bank does so through responsible business practices, which promote economic growth and opportunities for underserved communities, as well as charitable contributions from the Union Bank Foundation.
In 2009, the bank’s charitable investment in local communities totaled $11 million, including $9.8 million in grants, contributions, and sponsorships to help finance the efforts of nonprofit organizations within the bank’s marketplace.
As a corporate sponsor, Union Bank has provided substantial financial support to Sonoma’s Jazz Festival since its inception six years ago. In addition, the bank supports several local non-profits, including Becoming Independent, Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley, Kiwanis Club of Sonoma, Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Valley of the Moon Teen Center’s Operation Youth program.
The Sonoma banking office, located at 500 Broadway Street, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit unionbank.com or call the 933 – 1140 for additional details.
