OCB Bancorp — parent company of Ojai Community Bank, Santa Barbara Community Bank, Ventura Community Bank and Santa Paula Community Bank — has eclipsed a $200 million loan portfolio, the company recently announced.

As its loan portfolio has grown at around 30 percent to 35 percent annually over the past several years, OCB Bancorp now has the largest loan portfolio of any Ventura County-headquartered community bank, the OCB Bancorp said.

Local decision-making and relationship building coupled with Ventura County’s recovering economy and increased home sales has driven the growth, President and CEO Dave Brubaker said.

“This personal consulting approach has helped increase total outstanding loans to reach record levels,” he said in a news release. “We also have the added value of local decision-making, which is so important at a local level. With more complicated loans, we can determine immediately if we can assist those customers with their unique needs. Our clients appreciate that we tailor loans to meet their needs.”

The bank’s growth has benefited from industry consolidation and the declining service levels at larger banks, Brubaker added.

• Contact Alex Kacik at akacik@pacbiztimes.com.