Board Transition Marks a Moment of Reflection and Appreciation
Community West Bancshares, the parent company of Community West Bank and a publicly traded institution listed on NASDAQ under the ticker CWBC, announced an important leadership transition with the retirement of Suzanne M. Chadwick from the Boards of Directors of both the Company and the Bank, effective March 31, 2026, a decision that marks the close of a meaningful chapter in the organization’s post-merger evolution and provides an opportunity to reflect on the depth of experience, dedication, and community-focused leadership she brought to the institution during a pivotal period of growth and transformation
Appointment During a Transformative Merger Period
Suzanne M. Chadwick joined the Boards of Directors of Community West Bancshares and Community West Bank on April 1, 2024, immediately following the completion of the Company’s transformative merger, a strategic milestone that reshaped the organization’s operational scale, geographic footprint, and long-term growth trajectory, and her appointment at that moment was widely regarded as both timely and strategic due to her prior experience with the acquired institution, where she had served as a director beginning in August 2020, giving her a unique dual perspective that proved invaluable as the newly combined organization navigated integration, alignment, and expansion initiatives
Continuity, Stability, and Leadership During Integration
During the merger integration process, Ms. Chadwick played a vital role in helping guide the Board and management team through a complex period of organizational change, offering continuity and stability rooted in her familiarity with both legacy institutions and her understanding of the cultural, operational, and community dynamics that defined them, and as the Company expanded its footprint by adding seven Banking Centers and welcoming new team members across California’s Central Coast, her insights and historical knowledge helped ensure that growth was balanced with consistency, employee engagement, and a strong commitment to client relationships
Deep Understanding of the Central Coast Banking Landscape
One of Ms. Chadwick’s most significant contributions stemmed from her deep understanding of California’s Central Coast region, an area characterized by distinct economic drivers, close-knit communities, and long-standing relationships between local businesses, residents, and financial institutions, and her familiarity with the region allowed her to bring perceptiveness and contextual awareness to Board discussions, ensuring that strategic decisions aligned not only with financial objectives but also with the unique needs and expectations of the communities served by Community West Bank
Commitment to Employees, Clients, and Communities
Throughout the integration and beyond, Ms. Chadwick consistently demonstrated a commitment to the welfare of employees, clients, and the broader communities the Bank serves, advocating for thoughtful decision-making that considered the human impact of growth initiatives, operational changes, and technological investments, and her approach reflected a core belief in the principles of community banking, where trust, accessibility, and long-term relationships are foundational elements rather than secondary considerations
Active Engagement Across Key Board Committees
In addition to her broader Board responsibilities, Ms. Chadwick was an active and engaged member of several key committees, including the Bank’s Asset/Liability Committee, Technology Committee, and Retirement Committee, where her collaborative insights and practical experience were highly valued by fellow directors and senior management, and her contributions in these forums helped shape policies and oversight related to balance sheet management, technology modernization, risk oversight, and employee benefits, all of which are critical to the sustainability and competitiveness of a modern financial institution
Four Decades of Banking Experience Informing Governance
A former banker with more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, Ms. Chadwick brought to the Board a depth of knowledge that spanned multiple economic cycles, regulatory environments, and industry transformations, enabling her to provide measured, informed guidance grounded in real-world experience, and her expertise in relationship management and financial services strategy enriched Board deliberations, particularly during periods of change when institutional memory and seasoned judgment are essential
Championing the Values of Community Banking
Central to Ms. Chadwick’s Board service was her genuine focus on the benefits and responsibilities of community banking, including personalized service, local decision-making, and meaningful engagement with clients and communities, and she consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining these values even as the Company pursued growth, modernization, and expanded geographic reach, reinforcing the idea that scale and community focus are not mutually exclusive but can be mutually reinforcing when guided by thoughtful leadership
Board Leadership and Recognition from the Chairman
Daniel J. Doyle, Chairman of the Board, highlighted Ms. Chadwick’s impact by emphasizing her unwavering commitment to community, her relationship-driven approach, her business insight, and her leadership, noting that these qualities were deeply valued by the entire Board and contributed significantly to the effectiveness of its governance, and he further acknowledged her collaborative spirit, attention to detail, and financial acumen as attributes that enhanced Board discussions and decision-making across a wide range of strategic and operational matters
A Collaborative Spirit That Strengthened Governance
Mr. Doyle also recognized Ms. Chadwick’s ability to work collaboratively with fellow directors and management, fostering an environment of mutual respect, open dialogue, and constructive challenge, and her thoughtful contributions, combined with her willingness to listen and engage, helped strengthen the Board’s collective effectiveness and ensured that diverse perspectives were considered as the Company navigated growth, integration, and strategic planning
A Distinguished Career at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
Prior to her Board service, Ms. Chadwick built a distinguished banking career that included more than 20 years at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, where she served as Senior Vice President and Private Client Relationship Manager, a role in which she was responsible for cultivating and managing high-value client relationships and contributing to the bank’s strategic expansion, including its successful entry into Ventura County, a milestone that demonstrated her ability to combine relationship-building with market development
Early Career Foundations and Professional Education
Ms. Chadwick began her banking career at Bank of A. Levy, where she developed foundational skills and an appreciation for the operational and relational aspects of banking that would shape her professional approach for decades to come, and she further strengthened her expertise through her graduation from the Pacific Coast Banking School, a respected institution known for developing banking leaders with a strong grounding in financial management, regulatory compliance, and strategic thinking
Longstanding Commitment to Education and Nonprofit Leadership
Beyond her professional banking career, Ms. Chadwick has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to education and nonprofit leadership, having served as a Regent of California Lutheran University and remaining actively involved as a member of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, the School of Management, and KCLU Advisory Boards, organizations with which she has been associated since 1995, reflecting a sustained dedication to community engagement, leadership development, and civic involvement
Building Relationships Across Business and Community Sectors
Over the course of her extensive career, Ms. Chadwick cultivated strong business and private-client relationships built on trust, integrity, and a deep understanding of client needs, and her ability to navigate the unique dynamics of coastal banking communities enabled her to serve as a bridge between financial institutions and the individuals, families, and businesses that rely on them, an approach that aligned seamlessly with Community West Bank’s mission and values
CEO Perspective on Leadership and Impact
James J. Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Community West Bancshares and President and CEO of Community West Bank, echoed these sentiments by emphasizing that Ms. Chadwick’s service to the Board reflected caring leadership, client-centric decision-making, and a deep commitment to community banking, noting that her guidance and relationship-focused perspective strengthened both the Board and the Company during a period of significant growth and change
Relationship-Focused Governance in Practice
Mr. Kim also highlighted Ms. Chadwick’s considerate nature and her ability to bring a human-centered lens to governance discussions, ensuring that strategic decisions were evaluated not only through a financial or operational framework but also through their impact on clients, employees, and communities, a perspective that is increasingly important as financial institutions balance innovation, efficiency, and regulatory demands with the need to maintain trust and personal connection
Preparing for the Next Chapter
As Ms. Chadwick prepares to retire from the Boards and return to her home state of Michigan, the Company and Bank have expressed their gratitude for her service and extended well wishes for her health, success, and happiness, recognizing that her contributions have left a lasting imprint on the organization’s governance, culture, and strategic direction, and that the lessons drawn from her leadership will continue to inform Board deliberations and management practices well into the future
Lasting Legacy Within Community West Bancshares
The legacy of Ms. Chadwick’s Board service is reflected not only in specific initiatives or decisions but also in the broader emphasis on relationship-driven banking, thoughtful growth, and community engagement that characterized her tenure, and as Community West Bancshares continues to build on its post-merger momentum, her influence will remain evident in the values, priorities, and governance practices that guide the Company forward
About Community West Bank and Bancshares
Community West Bancshares (“Company”) (NASDAQ: CWBC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Community West Bank (“Bank”), are headquartered in Fresno, California. The Company was established in 1979 with the vision to help businesses and communities by exceeding expectations at every opportunity, and opened its first Banking Center on January 10, 1980. Today, the Bank operates full-service Banking Centers throughout Central California and maintains a variety of departments supporting Commercial Lending, Agribusiness, SBA, Residential Construction and Mortgage, Manufactured Housing, Private Banking, and Cash Management.
Members of the Company and Bank Board of Directors are: Daniel J. Doyle (Chairman), Robert H. Bartlein (Vice Chairman), James J. Kim (CEO of the Company and President and CEO of the Bank), Martin E. Plourd (President of the Company), Suzanne M. Chadwick, Daniel N. Cunningham, Tom L. Dobyns, F.T. “Tommy” Elliott IV, Robert J. Flautt, James W. Lokey, Andriana D. Majarian, Steven D. McDonald, Dorothea D. Silva, William S. Smittcamp, and Kirk B. Stovesand. Louis C. McMurray is Director Emeritus.
