Bank of the Sierra Announces New Commercial Banking Team in Bakersfield
January 03, 2024
Amir Zabrani, Naseem Saba, and Harshawn Dosanjh will work with Kern County businesses on lending opportunities
Porterville, Calif. – Bank of the Sierra announced today the addition of a new commercial banking team in Bakersfield. The team includes Amir Zabrani as Market President – Bakersfield Commercial Banking, Naseem Saba as Vice President, Relationship Manager, and Harshawn Dosanjh as Vice President, Senior Commercial Underwriter. Together, they will fulfill the Bank’s commitment to deliver an outstanding commercial banking experience. Bank of the Sierra’s commercial banking services include agricultural lending, real estate lending, operational and equipment financing, and treasury management. The group will focus on existing and new middle market clients across all major industries within Kern County.
From left to right: Naseem Saba, Amir Zabrani, and Harshawn Dosanjh
Zabrani, Saba, and Dosanjh bring more than 25 years of combined commercial banking experience throughout the Central Valley with a primary focus on Kern and Tulare counties. The new team’s expertise and local knowledge offer an opportunity for the Bank to provide businesses with the necessary capital to support their current needs and future growth. The three professionals join an expanding commercial and agricultural lending department and will work from the Bank’s office at 4456 California Avenue in Bakersfield.
Prior to joining Bank of the Sierra, Zabrani was a Market Leader at Wells Fargo, where he led a team offering commercial banking products and services in Kern County. He also worked for Mission Bank as a Senior Relationship Manager. Zabrani graduated from California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) with magna cum laude honors and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting and finance. He will also graduate from the University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking School in 2024. Zabrani is the treasurer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County and has volunteered for several organizations, including CASA of Kern County, the Accounting Advisory Board at CSUB, and Toastmasters International Club.
Saba was a Senior Business Development Officer at Wells Fargo, where he helped businesses from Visalia to Bakersfield in various industries, including investor real estate, food and agriculture, hospitality, and more. He also worked as a Relationship Manager for Mission Bank. Saba graduated from California State University, Bakersfield with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He has volunteered his time at Habitat for Humanity, MedAssist, Young Farmers & Ranchers, and California Food Bank.
Before arriving at Bank of the Sierra, Dosanjh worked with public and private companies in Central and Northern California, as well as the Pacific Northwest, as a Portfolio Manager at Wells Fargo. He also worked in the loan departments of Valley Republic Bank and JP Morgan Chase. Dosanjh earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from University of California, Irvine.
“We are excited to add Amir, Naseem, and Harshawn to our commercial banking team,” said Matt Dusi, Market President – Commercial Banking. “We look forward to the continued success and positive impact that this talented team will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of Bank of the Sierra.”
“These three gentlemen are experienced and committed to helping our business customers,” said Michael Olague, Chief Banking Officer. “They will allow Bank of the Sierra to continue expanding its commercial financing opportunities in the Central Valley.”
About Bank of the Sierra
Bank of the Sierra is in its 47th year of operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. Bank of the Sierra is a community-centric regional bank, which offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking services through full-service branches located within the counties of Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. The Bank also maintains an online branch and provides specialized lending services through agricultural credit centers in Templeton and a loan production office in Roseville. Bank of the Sierra was recognized as one of the strongest and top-performing community banks in the country, with a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial.