Sterling Financial Corporation  and its subsidiary, Sterling Savings Bank, announced on Monday the rebranding of its two California banks under the name Argent Bank.

The name applies to Sonoma Bank and Borrego Springs Bank, the two banking systems Sterling has acquired in California. It will also attach the name to the Commerce National Bank system it's buying pending approval later this year.

CEO and President Greg Seibly said, in a release, “Argent Bank unifies our California banking operations under one brand, providing a cohesive identity for the bank to continue to grow and deepen its roots in California. Our recent acquisitions demonstrate that we are committed to California and are ready to build a strong franchise in the state."

Sterling Financial chose the name Argent — which means “silver” in French — because it wanted a name that aligned with the bank’s identity. It is linked in a clear way to the name "sterling."

Sonoma Bank and Borrego Springs Bank will transition to the Argent Bank name on Sept. 23, 2013. Commerce National Bank, which has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Sterling Financial, will transition to the Argent Bank name after the acquisition is completed, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2013.  
  
The BankWithArgent.com website, which will share the same look and feel as the Sterling Bank website, is now live.

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