McDermott + Bull has successfully placed Rocky Bandzeladze as Chief Banking Officer at FFB Bank. In this role, Rocky will lead all lending teams across commercial, SBA, and multi-family residential wholesale, while ensuring alignment with the bank’s long-term vision and business objectives. He will play a key role in accelerating FFB’s expansion into key California markets, developing and executing growth strategies, and fostering a high-performing, client-focused culture.
Rocky brings over 25 years of leadership experience in commercial, SBA, and community banking, with a strong record of building teams, expanding markets, and managing complex credit portfolios. He most recently co-founded Agora Space Technologies, an aerospace engineering firm that scaled to $10 million in revenue under his operational leadership. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of Business Banking & SBA at Banc of California, where he launched and grew a new division to more than $500 million in production. Earlier in his career, Rocky held senior roles at California Bank & Trust, overseeing multi-billion-dollar loan and deposit portfolios and leading 100+ bankers across multiple regions, as well as at Comerica Bank, where he built a de novo Small Business Banking division across Southern California. He holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, an MBA from California State University, San Marcos, and a BA in Economics from California State University, Long Beach
FFB Bancorp, formerly Communities First Financial Corporation, a bank holding company established in 2014, is the parent company of FFB Bank, founded in 2005 in Fresno, California. As a leading SBA Lender in California’s Central Valley and one of the few direct acquiring banks in the United States, FFB Bank offers clients a range of personal and business checking accounts, payment processes, and loan programs.
This executive search was completed by McDermott + Bull President Brandon Biegenzahn and Director Rachel Crisi.