Sonoma Bank Getting New Name

A longtime local financial institution will soon have a new name.

Starting next month, Sonoma Bank will be Argent Bank.

The move is part of an effort to streamline its California operations, representatives of its parent company, Washington-based Sterling Financial said. Sterling also owns Borrego Springs Bank.

Argent means silver in French.

Sonoma Bank, the county's second largest community bank, has operated under its current name since its inception more than 30 years ago.

The name change is effective Sept. 23.

The downtown Sonoma Bank on 135 West Napa Street is among six county branches.

Details of the transition will be sent to Sonoma Bank customers in the coming weeks.

"As our footprint now spans the state, it became more important to develop a consistent, long-term strategy that included a single name throughout California,” Sterling CEO Greg Seibly said in a prepared statement.