Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of the Sierra, which operates about two dozen branches in Central California's San Joaquin Valley between (and including) Bakersfield and Fresno. The bank gathers funds from individuals and small and midsized business customers by offering traditional deposit products, including savings and checking accounts, money market accounts, CDs, and IRAs. Its lending activities consist largely of commercial real estate mortgages and construction loans (almost half of the company's loan portfolio) and loans secured by residential properties. The bank also offers agricultural, consumer, and Small Business Administration loans and equipment leasing.