Putting aside for a moment its recent multimillion-dollar losses and plummeting stock prices, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust will celebrate its 50th anniversary on 3/18.
SBB&T, the largest community bank in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, was founded in 1960 by Louis Lancaster, Reuben Irvin, and Ralph Raddue. Its first branch was built at 20 East Carillo Street—now the company’s main branch—and the institution grew to become the largest privately owned community bank on the Central Coast. With 30 locations, SBB&T is a major division of its parent holding company, Pacific Capital Bancorp.