Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, the largest regional community bank in Santa Barbara County, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Louis Lancaster, Reuben Irvin, and Ralph Raddue founded the bank in 1960. The trio established the first branch at 20 East Carrillo St. in Santa Barbara, which now serves as the bank’s main branch. The bank has since grown throughout the Central Coast, with 30 branches in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and it’s a major division of the holding company, Pacific Capital Bancorp.

Santa Barbara Bank and Trust’s Santa Maria branch is located at 335 E. Betteravia Road. The bank also has branches in Lompoc, Arroyo Grande, Vandenberg Village, Buellton, Solvang, and Los Olivos. Pacific Bancorp recently announced it would close the bank’s Buellton and Vandenberg Village locations in April.

For more information, visit sbbt.com.

Biz Briefs is compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.

This article appears in Mar 11-18, 2010.