What Sierra Bancorp does

Sierra Bancorp is a California corporation and registered bank holding company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker BSRR, operating primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary Bank of the Sierra, a California state-chartered bank headquartered in Porterville. Bank of the Sierra opened in January 1978 and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. The company provides retail and commercial banking services through 34 full-service branches across seven California counties (Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara), an online branch, and specialized lending through an agricultural credit center, an SBA center, and a mortgage warehouse division that represents approximately 19.4% of total loan balances as of Q1 2026.

Sierra Bancorp's revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on its loan portfolio — including real estate, commercial, mortgage warehouse, and consumer loans — net of interest expense on deposits and borrowings, with a Q1 2026 net interest margin of 3.75%. Noninterest income ($8.0 million in Q1 2026) is derived from deposit account service charges, debit card interchange, business analysis and overdraft fees, and the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance. As of March 31, 2026, Sierra Bancorp reported $3.75 billion in total assets, $2.47 billion in gross loans, and $2.93 billion in total deposits, with Q1 2026 net income of $12.5 million ($0.96 diluted EPS, up 47% year-over-year), a 1.39% return on average assets, a 13.88% return on average equity, and a 56.45% efficiency ratio.

Customer segments span community retail banking, business and commercial banking, and the agricultural sector, with a horizontal segmentation approach and a vertical emphasis on farming and ag operations in California's Central Valley. Distribution is branch-led, supplemented by an online banking channel and dedicated direct-sales lending centers. Sierra Bancorp has grown historically through community bank acquisitions (Sierra National Bank in 2000, Santa Clara Valley Bank in 2014, Coast Bancorp in 2016, OCB Bancorp in 2017) and selective branch purchases, while maintaining 110 consecutive quarterly cash dividends since 1987 and a 5-star Bauer Financial rating.

Name

Sierra Bancorp

Legal name

Sierra Bancorp

Website

https://sierrabancorp.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Sierra Bancorp is a publicly traded California bank holding company (NASDAQ: BSRR) operating through Bank of the Sierra, providing retail, commercial, agricultural, SBA, and mortgage warehouse lending to consumers, small businesses, and farmers across seven California counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Retail deposit accounts
• Commercial real estate loans
• Agricultural lending
• SBA guaranteed loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Porterville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Interest income from loan portfolio including real estate loans, commercial loans, mortgage warehouse lines, and consumer loans, offset by interest expense on deposits and borrowings. Net interest margin was 3.75% in Q1 2026.
2. Noninterest Income: Service charges and fees on deposit accounts, interchange income on debit cards, business analysis fees, overdraft fee income, cash surrender value of life insurance, and other income. Total noninterest income was $8.0 million in Q1 2026.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Sierra Bancorp operates through Bank of the Sierra, a California state-chartered community bank providing a full range of retail and commercial banking services including deposit accounts, real estate loans, commercial loans, consumer loans, and mortgage warehouse financing. The bank operates 34 full-service branches across seven California counties and provides specialized lending through an agricultural credit center and an SBA center.

Product overview

Sierra Bancorp operates as a bank holding company with its primary subsidiary Bank of the Sierra, offering a comprehensive suite of community banking products and services. The company operates 34 full-service branches across seven California counties and maintains an online branch for digital banking access. The product portfolio includes retail and commercial deposit services, various loan products (real estate, commercial, agricultural, consumer), and specialized lending through dedicated divisions including a mortgage warehouse division, an agricultural credit center, and an SBA center. The mortgage warehouse division represents a significant lending segment at approximately 19.4% of total loan balances. The company positions itself as a community-centric regional bank focused on the South San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, Ventura County, and neighboring California communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retail and Commercial Banking (Bank of the Sierra) Full-service retail and commercial banking offering through 34 full-service branches across California's Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties plus an online branch, providing deposit accounts, real estate loans, commercial loans, consumer loans, and transaction services to individuals and businesses.
• Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division Specialized lending division providing mortgage warehouse financing to mortgage lenders, representing 19.4% of the bank's total loan balances as of Q1 2026 and funded primarily through wholesale sources including brokered deposits.
• Agricultural Credit Center Specialized lending division providing agricultural credit services to farmers and agricultural producers in California's Central Valley, offering seasonal financing, agricultural real estate, and equipment loans.
• SBA Center Specialized Small Business Administration lending center providing SBA-guaranteed loans to support small business development and growth.

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 net income increased 38% year-over-year to $12.5 million
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TriCo Bancshares: California community bank holding company with Tri Counties Bank subsidiary, offering similar retail and commercial banking services across Northern and Central California. Comparable size, business model, and regulatory profile as a fellow publicly traded California community bank.
• Heritage Commerce Corp: San Jose, California-based bank holding company operating Heritage Bank of Commerce with similar community banking focus and comparable asset size. Direct competitor in California with overlapping SBA and commercial lending programs.
• Pacific Premier Bancorp: Irvine, California-based community bank with significant California presence offering similar commercial and retail banking services. Comparable publicly traded community banking franchise with similar product mix including SBA and specialized lending.
• Westamerica Bancorporation: California-focused community bank holding company operating Westamerica Bank with similar retail and commercial banking services. Long-established California community bank franchise comparable in operating model and regulatory positioning.
• Mechanics Bank: Richmond, California-based community bank with comparable retail and commercial banking services across Northern and Central California. Direct competitor with similar community bank positioning and product offerings including SBA lending.
• CVB Financial Corp: Ontario, California-based community bank holding company (Citizens Business Bank) operating in overlapping California markets. Sierra Bancorp has previously acquired branches from CVB Financial, indicating direct market overlap and competitive positioning.
• First Northern Community Bancorp: California community bank holding company with First Northern Bank subsidiary serving Northern California markets with comparable retail and commercial banking services. Similar community banking focus and publicly traded structure.
• Pacific Enterprise Bancorp: Smaller California-based community bank holding company with similar business model focusing on business and consumer banking in California markets. Comparable scale and community banking approach.
• Central Valley Community Bancorp: Direct competitor headquartered in Fresno, California serving the same Central Valley geography with comparable community banking services and similar asset size. Closest peer by both product offering and geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Banner Corporation: Walla Walla, Washington-based bank holding company with larger asset base operating across Pacific Northwest and California. Comparable community banking model with broader geographic reach, serving as a benchmark for what scaled California community banking could look like.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sierra Bancorp