Oak Valley Community Bank Announces Leadership Team Promotions
Rhea-AI Summary
Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY) announced internal leadership promotions effective Jan 12, 2026: Bill Nunes was promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Jose Sabala to Senior Vice President, CRA Officer. Nunes, with the bank since 2005, will lead marketing, advertising, communications, public relations, and strategic partnerships. Sabala, with the bank since 2018, will oversee CRA compliance, outreach, and community partnerships to support credit access for low- and moderate-income communities. The bank operates Oak Valley Community Bank and Eastern Sierra Community Bank with 19 branches across Central California and the Eastern Sierra.
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-08 | Branch leadership hire | Positive | -1.4% | New Tracy branch manager appointed, succeeding long-time predecessor. |
| 2025-11-04 | Community grant award | Positive | +2.9% | $150,000 AHEAD grant approval for workforce development program. |
| 2025-10-22 | Q3 2025 earnings | Neutral | +1.3% | Q3 2025 results with higher net interest income and clean credit quality. |
| 2025-10-07 | Branch leadership hire | Positive | -0.9% | New East Sonora branch manager with ~30 years of banking experience. |
| 2025-10-07 | Branch leadership hire | Positive | -0.9% | New Modesto–McHenry branch manager appointed to drive local growth. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent OVLY headlines around hiring and community initiatives often led to small price moves, with several branch/leadership announcements seeing mild negative reactions despite neutral-to-positive operational tone.
Over the last few months, Oak Valley Bancorp has reported stable Q3 2025 results, with net income of $6.693M and diluted EPS of $0.81, alongside strong asset quality. Operationally, the bank has focused on branch leadership, adding new Vice Presidents and Branch Managers across Tracy, East Sonora, and Modesto–McHenry, while maintaining a 19-branch footprint. Community engagement has remained visible through a $150,000 workforce-development grant. Today’s leadership promotions fit into this ongoing emphasis on local management strength and community-focused banking.
Key Terms
community reinvestment act (CRA) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
OAKDALE, Calif., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY), the bank holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank and its Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, today announced the promotions of Bill Nunes to Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, and Jose Sabala to Senior Vice President, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer.
Bill Nunes — Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Nunes joined the Bank in 2005 and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Marketing Manager, overseeing both the Marketing and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) departments. Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in elevating Oak Valley’s brand while advancing community-focused initiatives. His promotion reflects his role in developing and executing the Bank’s marketing and brand strategy, including advertising, communications, public relations, and strategic partnerships.
“Bill is a proven leader whose perspective and collaborative approach have made a measurable impact across our organization,” said Rick McCarty, President and Chief Operating Officer of Oak Valley Community Bank. “He is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of our markets, our communities, and the critical role brand reputation plays in driving growth.”
Nunes currently serves on the board of Second Harvest of the Greater Valley and on the board of trustees for the Gallo Center for the Arts. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Finance and an MBA from California State University, Stanislaus, and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School. He resides in Patterson with his wife and family.
Jose Sabala — Senior Vice President, CRA Officer
Since joining the Bank in 2018, Sabala has significantly enhanced the Bank’s CRA program through expanded outreach and strategic community partnerships. He oversees CRA compliance and execution, ensuring the program aligns with both regulatory expectations and Oak Valley’s mission to serve and strengthen its communities. His efforts have supported economic development and improved access to credit for low- and moderate-income individuals, families, businesses, and neighborhoods across the Bank’s service areas.
“Jose provides exceptional leadership of our CRA program and is widely respected for his impact on community relationships,” McCarty said. “His ability to create meaningful, results-driven engagement is vital as the Bank continues to grow, ensuring our CRA efforts deliver real benefits for the communities we serve.”
Sabala is deeply involved in local community organizations, serving as Board Vice President of City Ministry Network, Board Chair of Access Plus Capital, a Grants committee member of the San Joaquin Community Foundation, and a board member of both the California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) and the Modesto Junior College Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and resides in Modesto with his wife and children.
Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank & their Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, through which it offers a variety of loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. They currently operate through 19 conveniently located branches: Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, Sacramento, Roseville, Lodi, two branches in Sonora, three branches in Modesto, and three branches in the Eastern Sierra division which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop.
For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.
| Contact: | Chris Courtney/Rick McCarty |
| Phone: | (209) 848-BANK (2265), (866) 844-7500 www.ovcb.com |
