The Bank of Southern California, headquartered in San Diego, has made good on plans to deepen its presence in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, with its newest branch opening in Encino this past month.The growing commercial bank, founded in 2001, announced in late January that its temporary location is at 16255 Ventura Blvd., but the branch will have another permanent location this spring. The Encino outpost is Bank of SoCal’s first location in the San Fernando Valley, and its third in L.A. County, the bank said in a statement.“The addition of an Encino location marks an important milestone for Bank of Southern California as we further expand our market presence to meet the growing needs of Los Angeles County’s business community,” Richard Hernandez, chief banking officer, said in a statement. “The San Fernando Valley is home to more than 1.8 million residents and is a major center for key industries like film and television, aerospace, educational services, and professional service firms, making this area a natural fit.”Hernandez was brought on in November to grow the bank’s presence in the Southern California region, the company said in a statement. Prior to his new position, Hernandez served as executive vice president for Beverly Hills-based Pacific Western Bank, overseeing commercial banking in L.A. and Ventura counties.“We look forward to expanding the company and welcoming new employees and customers to Bank of Southern California,” Nathan Rogge, chief executive, said in a statement released late December.The Encino location will serve individuals, professionals and small-to-medium sized businesses, Hernandez said. It’s one of five full-service branches that the bank plans to open by the end of the first quarter. Other new markets will include Santa Clarita, Westlake Village, West Los Angeles and La Jolla.The company’s expansion has been led by Sam Kunianski, vice president of commercial banking. Four team members report to Kunianski: Jonathan Perez, regional manager; Robel Neway, relationship manager; and Claudia Castillo and Gladys Gonzalez, business banking sales support officers.“(Our) expansion in the Los Angeles area has been going well and we have hired several seasoned bankers who both live and work within the region to further support our growth,” Rogge said in an email to the Business Journal. “As a (Small Business Administration)-preferred Bank, we have been able to support the region’s local businesses with critical funding, including first-time PPP Loans and Second Draw PPP Loans. This has allowed us to serve more businesses in the region.”Given the ongoing pandemic, the company has enhanced digital solutions for clients, Rogge added.Perez, formerly senior vice president of commercial banking at Pacific Western Bank along with Hernandez, will be responsible for managing customer relationships and driving loan and deposit growth in the region, the bank said.Neway will focus on seeking new business opportunities in the Valley. Previous experience handling a large portfolio of commercial clients for Pacific Western Bank will help in his new role.Castillo is a “20-year banking veteran,” while Gonzalez is “an accomplished and highly analytical loan processor,” the company said in a statement.