Being genuinely invested in our community means playing an active and meaningful role in its everyday life. In 2025, our team continued its commitment to dedicating time, energy, and resources into initiatives and events that strengthen financial literacy, fight food insecurity, support youth development, and bring meaningful moments to local families. This year, our employees contributed a total of 4,236 volunteer hours bank-wide, representing nearly a 3% increase from the previous year and underscoring our continued commitment to community engagement.
As we step into 2026, we feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to stand alongside our neighbors across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, making an impact together. Here’s a look back at just some of the community initiatives that shaped our year.
Financial education lays the foundation for a lifetime of confidence and independence. In April, our team had the privilege of partnering with the American Bankers Association’s Teach Children to Save program to bring these lessons into local classrooms.
Throughout the month, ARB volunteers spent time with students discussing saving, budgeting, and everyday financial decision-making. 2025 marked a particularly successful year, as we delivered lessons to over 500 students with the help of 15 dedicated team members across our bank locations. These classroom conversations help students build confidence around money management and provide tools they can use for a lifetime.
On June 6, ARB employees proudly joined an Open House for SLO Food Bank’s Hunger Awareness Day. The event featured a Breakfast Bag Build-off, where teams assembled nutritious meal bags for children in need, along with guided tours of the food bank’s warehouse operations.
Steven Harding, Jay Beck, Dustin Reese, and Saigeeta Patel represented Team ARB, bringing both heart and enthusiasm to the competition, assembling 220 breakfast bags and earning the trophy for Most Spirited Build Team. The experience was a powerful reminder of how our hands-on involvement and strong community partnerships can make a tangible difference for families facing food insecurity.
ARB has long supported the California Mid-State Fair Junior Livestock Auction, an important program that empowers youth through livestock programs like 4-H and FFA. These programs offer skills that extend far beyond the fairgrounds. They teach responsibility, organization, communication, public speaking, and care for others.
Our involvement is deeply personal, with several ARB employees actively engaged in supporting youth exhibitors. Team members across our SLO County branches, such as Ann Hansen and Neil Amarante, continue to play a meaningful role in ensuring these programs thrive. Seeing young participants develop skills and confidence reinforces the value of this long-standing commitment.
The year wrapped up with one of our most heartfelt traditions, the United Way Holiday Gift Drive. In December, ARB once again partnered with United Way of Santa Barbara County to bring holiday magic to children from local low-resource households.
This year, our team shopped for and wrapped gifts for eight children, resulting in more than 70 thoughtfully selected presents. From shopping and wrapping to delivery, ARB employees came together to ensure each child’s wish list was met with care and joy, serving as a reminder of the impact generosity can have, especially during the holiday season.
Several other events reflected the range of ARB’s community involvement throughout the year.
Team ARB joined the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Santa Barbara, standing in support of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Participation in, and sponsorship of, this special event reflects our commitment to raising awareness, funding research, and supporting local health-related causes that touch so many lives in our community.
In October, ARB sponsored and participated in the Alpha Resource Center’s Star Wars themed Plane Pull event. ARB finished strong as a top ten fundraising team, with employee Holly Mislavsky ranking among the top ten individual fundraisers. Adding to the fun, ARB employee Tim Johnson took home the “Best Costume” award with an unforgettable Chewbacca outfit. The event blended teamwork, creativity, and meaningful fundraising for an important local organization.
As we move into 2026 with our expansion into Ventura County, we remain committed to strengthening the communities we serve. Through education, service, sponsorships, and everyday involvement, American Riviera Bank is proud to be a community partner you can count on.
We are grateful to our employees, community partners, and clients who help make this work possible. Together, we continue to build stronger communities through steady and purposeful efforts, one initiative at a time.
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