River Valley Community Bank just celebrated its 20th year in business — a milestone in and of itself — and they are doing it with a model that feels increasingly rare in modern finance. In an industry driven by scale and automation, the bank has built its identity around something less quantifiable but more enduring: human connection.

Since its founding in June 2006, RVCB has focused on serving the people and businesses that make up its region — not just as customers, but as neighbors. That approach has become a defining reason for its success. While digital tools and mobile platforms have reshaped banking, RVCB has continued to prioritize direct relationships, ensuring that clients can speak with a banker who knows their name, understands their accounts and recognizes the impact behind every decision.

“River Valley Community Bank has always been more than a place to bank. We are locally invested bankers who serve in our communities, know our customers, remain accessible and make decisions with a deep understanding of our local markets — creating a level of connection and trust that is increasingly rare in banking today.”— John Jelavich, President & CEO

That philosophy proved especially significant during the COVID-19 pandemic. As businesses scrambled for relief through the Paycheck Protection Program, RVCB issued the second-highest number of PPP loans in its markets, outperforming institutions many times its size. The milestone underscored the bank’s responsiveness and its commitment to acting quickly when livelihoods were on the line.

The bank’s leadership sees its role differently from larger financial institutions that often expand into markets with the goal of dominating them. RVCB has instead focused on growing into its community, investing in long-term relationships and ensuring that local businesses and residents feel supported at every stage.

In practice, that means resisting the full automation of customer experience. When financial uncertainty arises, the bank believes that a faceless interface cannot replace a conversation with a banker who understands the customers banking relationship and the person behind it.

Today, that commitment is carried forward by dedicated relationship management teams serving the Bank’s markets. Led by Steve Berry, SVP, Head of Commercial Banking, the teams continue to uphold the relationship-focused approach that has defined River Valley Community Bank for nearly two decades. Andrew Tagg oversees the Placer County Relationship Management Team, while Matt Peyret leads the Relationship Management Team serving Yuba, Sutter, Nevada, and Washoe counties. Joining Matt and his team is President & CEO John Jelavich, whose commitment to community banking and local decision-making continues to guide the Bank’s mission and relationship-focused approach.

As River Valley Community Bank enters its third decade, its continued growth reflects a simple but powerful idea: that in banking, trust is built person to person, and that commitment remains its strongest asset.