Company Description
United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ: UBFO) is a financial holding company for United Security Bank, a community-focused commercial bank based in California. According to company disclosures, United Security Bank was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Fresno, California. United Security Bancshares operates within the commercial banking industry and the broader finance and insurance sector, with its common stock traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol UBFO.
United Security Bank provides what it describes as a full range of commercial and personal banking services. These services are delivered through a network of 13 full-service branch offices located in Fresno, Bakersfield, Campbell, Caruthers, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Mendota, Oakhurst, San Joaquin, and Taft. The bank also maintains dedicated departments for Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Commercial Lending, and Consumer Lending, reflecting a focus on both business and individual customers in its markets.
As the parent company, United Security Bancshares oversees the operations of United Security Bank and reports its financial and regulatory information through filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company has indicated in its public communications that its primary activities center on traditional banking services, including lending and deposit-taking, and it is identified in regulatory and market data as operating in commercial banking within the finance and insurance sector.
Branch network and market footprint
United Security Bank’s branch footprint is concentrated in Central California. Its full-service branches are located in Fresno, Madera, Kern, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara Counties, as described in company and transaction announcements. This regional presence positions the bank to serve local businesses, professionals, and individuals in these communities through in-person banking relationships at its 13 branch offices.
In addition to its branch network, the bank’s specialized departments for Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Commercial Lending, and Consumer Lending provide focused support for different types of borrowers. Company descriptions emphasize that United Security Bank is dedicated to delivering service and supporting economic activity in the communities it serves, with lending operations that include commercial and consumer credit offerings.
Business model and services
United Security Bancshares functions as a bank holding company, with United Security Bank as its primary operating subsidiary. Public descriptions of the bank state that it provides commercial and personal banking services and operates lending departments covering commercial real estate, construction, commercial lending, and consumer lending. Earlier third-party descriptions also note that the bank offers checking and savings accounts, deposits, mortgage loans, credit and debit cards, safe deposit boxes, automated teller machines, wire transfers, money market accounts, mobile banking, and wealth management services, as well as interest income from loans and investment securities as primary revenue sources. These descriptions indicate a focus on traditional community banking activities.
Company news releases and SEC filings highlight recurring decisions by the Board of Directors regarding regular quarterly cash dividends on United Security Bancshares common stock. These dividend declarations are disclosed through Form 8-K filings and related press releases, underscoring the company’s practice of communicating capital distribution decisions to shareholders through formal regulatory channels.
Corporate developments and merger agreement
United Security Bancshares has reported a significant corporate development through an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Community West Bancshares (NASDAQ: CWBC). According to a Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2025, and related joint press releases, United Security Bancshares entered into a merger agreement under which it will merge with and into Community West Bancshares, with Community West Bancshares as the surviving corporation. Following this transaction, United Security Bank is expected to merge with and into Community West Bank, the wholly owned banking subsidiary of Community West Bancshares.
The merger agreement provides that shareholders of United Security Bancshares will have the right to receive shares of Community West Bancshares common stock based on a specified exchange ratio. The companies have disclosed that, upon consummation of the merger, United Security Bancshares shareholders are expected to own a minority portion of the combined company. The agreement also provides for the addition of at least one current United Security Bancshares director, Jagroop “Jay” Gill, along with another individual recommended by United Security Bancshares, to the Community West Bancshares board of directors upon completion of the merger. In connection with the transaction, United Security Bancshares has reported that its Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer will serve as Chairman Emeritus at Community West Bank for a defined period to assist with the transition of customer relationships.
Company and joint press releases state that the boards of directors of both United Security Bancshares and Community West Bancshares have unanimously approved the merger transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and shareholder approvals. The parties have indicated an expectation that the merger will be completed in a future period, as described in their public communications, but have also included cautionary language that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Regulatory reporting and governance
United Security Bancshares files periodic and current reports with the SEC, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These filings provide information about the company’s financial condition, results of operations, risk factors, and material events such as dividend declarations and merger agreements. Company communications encourage investors and security holders to review these filings, as well as joint proxy statements and registration statements related to the proposed merger with Community West Bancshares.
In connection with the proposed merger, United Security Bancshares has disclosed the existence of voting and support agreements entered into by directors and certain officers of both companies. These agreements relate to voting in favor of the merger and the issuance of stock consideration, as described in the Form 8-K detailing the merger agreement. The company’s filings also reference the role of financial advisors and legal counsel in connection with the transaction.
Dividend practices and shareholder information
United Security Bancshares uses regular cash dividends as one means of returning capital to shareholders. Multiple press releases and Form 8-K filings describe decisions by the Board of Directors to declare regular quarterly cash dividends on the company’s common stock, specifying record dates and payment dates for these distributions. These announcements are typically accompanied by standard cautionary statements regarding forward-looking information.
Investors are directed in company communications to obtain United Security Bancshares’ SEC filings through the SEC’s website and through the company’s investor information channels. In the context of the proposed merger, shareholders are advised to review the joint proxy statement/prospectus to be included in a registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by Community West Bancshares, which will contain additional information about the transaction and the combined company.
Role within the commercial banking sector
Within the commercial banking segment of the finance and insurance sector, United Security Bancshares, through United Security Bank, focuses on serving communities in Central California. Its network of full-service branches and specialized lending departments supports both commercial and consumer clients. Public descriptions emphasize relationship-based banking and community involvement, with references to economic growth and service to local businesses, families, and individuals.
For investors and analysts researching UBFO stock or seeking to understand what United Security Bancshares does, the company’s own disclosures highlight its identity as a California-based bank holding company, the community banking orientation of United Security Bank, its regional branch network, and its ongoing regulatory reporting and corporate developments, including the announced merger with Community West Bancshares.