cvcy-20260121


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: January 21, 2026

(Date of earliest event reported)

Community West Bancshares

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

000-31977

(Commission File Number)

77-0539125

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

7100 N. Financial Dr., Ste. 101, Fresno, CA

(Address of principal executive offices)

93720

(Zip Code)

559-298-1775

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Common Stock, no par value

CWBC

NASDAQ

(Title of Each Class)

(Trading Symbol)

(Name of Each Exchange on which Registered)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act o

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;

Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On January 21, 2026, Suzanne M. Chadwick, a member of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Community West Bancshares (the “Company”), provided the Board with notice of her intention to retire from the Board and from the board of directors (the “Bank Board”) of Community West Bank, the Company’s wholly owned bank subsidiary, effective March 31, 2026. In addition, on January 21, 2026, the Board and the Bank Board appointed Andriana D. Majarian as Lead Independent Director, effective January 21, 2026. Ms. Majarian succeeds Daniel N. Cunningham, who previously held the title of Lead Independent Director of the Board and the Bank Board.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits


99.1			Press Release Announcing Retirement of Suzanne M. Chadwick Effective 3-31-26
99.2			Press Release Announcing Andriana D. Majarian as Lead Independent Director Effective 1-21-26

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Dated:			January 26, 2026			COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES By: /s/ Shannon R. Livingston Shannon R. Livingston Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF

BOARD MEMBER SUZANNE M. CHADWICK

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA – January 26, 2026 – The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Community West Bancshares (“Company”) (NASDAQ: CWBC), the parent company of Community West Bank (“Bank”), announced today that Suzanne M. Chadwick has elected to retire from the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank, effective March 31, 2026.

Ms. Chadwick joined the Community West Bancshares and Community West Bank Boards of Directors on April 1, 2024, following the completion of the Company’s transformative merger. She previously served as a director of the acquired institution beginning in August 2020. Her contributions during the merger integration were instrumental as the newly combined Company expanded its footprint by adding seven Banking Centers and welcoming team members across California’s Central Coast, a region with which she brought familiarity and perceptiveness. Throughout the transition, she provided valuable guidance, always with a commitment to the welfare of employees, clients, and the communities the Bank serves.

Ms. Chadwick has been an active and engaged member of the Bank’s Asset/Liability, Technology, and Retirement Committees, where her collaborative insights have been greatly appreciated. A former banker with more than 40 years of experience, she brought strong financial services and relationship-management expertise, extensive knowledge of the Central Coast region, and a genuine focus on the benefits of community banking.

“Sue’s unwavering commitment to community, her relationship-driven approach, her business insight, and her leadership have been deeply valued by our entire Board,” said Daniel J. Doyle, Chairman of the Board. “Her collaborative spirit, attention to detail, and financial acumen contributed significantly to the Board’s work. We sincerely thank Sue for the time and care she brought to every aspect of her Board service.”

Ms. Chadwick worked for Santa Barbara Bank & Trust for over 20 years as Senior Vice President and Private Client Relationship Manager, and was responsible for the bank’s expansion into Ventura County. She began her banking career at Bank of A. Levy, and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School. A former Regent of California Lutheran University, she continues her long-standing involvement as a member of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, the School of Management, and KCLU Advisory Boards, on which she has been active since 1995. Over the course of her extensive banking career, she cultivated strong business and private-client relationships and an understanding of the unique dynamics of coastal banking communities.

“Sue’s service to our Board reflected caring leadership, client-centric decisioning, and a deep commitment to community banking,” said James J. Kim, CEO of the Company and President and CEO of the Bank. “Her guidance, relationship-focused perspective, and considerate nature strengthened our Board and Company. We wish her health, success, and happiness as she returns to her home state of Michigan.”

About Community West Bank and Bancshares

Community West Bancshares (“Company”) (NASDAQ: CWBC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Community West Bank (“Bank”), are headquartered in Fresno, California. The Company was established in 1979 with the vision to help businesses and communities

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Board Retirement - Page 2

by exceeding expectations at every opportunity, and opened its first Banking Center on

January 10, 1980. Today, the Bank operates full-service Banking Centers throughout Central California and maintains a variety of departments supporting Commercial Lending, Agribusiness, SBA, Residential Construction and Mortgage, Manufactured Housing, Private Banking, and Cash Management.

Members of the Company and Bank Board of Directors are: Daniel J. Doyle (Chairman), Robert H. Bartlein (Vice Chairman), James J. Kim (CEO of the Company and President and CEO of the Bank), Martin E. Plourd (President of the Company), Suzanne M. Chadwick, Daniel N. Cunningham, Tom L. Dobyns, F.T. “Tommy” Elliott IV, Robert J. Flautt, James W. Lokey, Andriana D. Majarian, Steven D. McDonald, Dorothea D. Silva, William S. Smittcamp, and Kirk B. Stovesand. Louis C. McMurray is Director Emeritus.

More information about Community West Bancshares and Community West Bank can be found at www.communitywestbank.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Debbie Nalchajian-Cohen

559-222-1322

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES APPOINTS ANDRIANA D. MAJARIAN

AS LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA – January 26, 2026 – The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Community West Bancshares (“Company”) (NASDAQ: CWBC), the parent company of Community West Bank (“Bank”), announced that Andriana D. Majarian has been appointed Lead Independent Director of the Company and the Bank, effective January 21, 2026.

Ms. Majarian has served on the Company’s and the Bank’s Board of Directors since December 1, 2020. She succeeds Daniel N. Cunningham, who previously held the Lead Independent Director title.

“Andriana brings a combination of strategic insight into mergers and acquisitions, operational discipline, and collaborative leadership to our Board,” said James J. Kim, CEO of the Company and President and CEO of the Bank. “Her experience spans technology, organizational growth, and corporate governance, and she consistently demonstrates a values-driven approach that aligns closely with our mission and long-term strategy.”

Since joining the Community West Bancshares Board, Ms. Majarian has been recognized for her expertise in technology, cybersecurity, mergers and acquisitions, and customer success, capabilities that are increasingly central to the Bank’s strategic growth. In 2025, she completed New York University’s Cyber Scholar Program, an application-based executive program designed to strengthen board-level cybersecurity governance.

“Andriana’s background in agribusiness, technology-enabled solutions, and organizational leadership brings an exceptional perspective to our Board,” said Daniel J. Doyle, Chairman of the Board. “She understands the importance of strong governance while deeply valuing our role as a true community bank. Her leadership, judgment, and collaborative approach will continue to strengthen our Board and support the Company’s long-term success.”

Ms. Majarian is a widely respected entrepreneur, technology executive, and philanthropic leader. In 2004, she co-founded Agrian, an agricultural technology company that became a leading platform serving the agricultural industry with worldwide operations in more than 58 countries. In 2020, Agrian was acquired by TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, where Ms. Majarian served as Global Head of Customer Support, Consumer Goods. Ms. Majarian currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer of Plant Path, a privately held agricultural technology company focused on building a domestic, vertically integrated stevia supply chain in the United States.

She has held senior executive and governance roles across healthcare, agriculture, and technology organizations, with a focus on operational leadership, growth strategy, and stakeholder engagement. Ms. Majarian has a long-standing record of community and board leadership, including past service with regional nonprofit and civic organizations.

About Community West Bank and Bancshares

Community West Bancshares (“Company”) (NASDAQ: CWBC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Community West Bank (“Bank”), are headquartered in Fresno, California. The

Company was established in 1979 with the vision to help businesses and communities by

exceeding expectations at every opportunity, and opened its first Banking Center on Central California and maintains a variety of departments supporting Commercial Lending, Agribusiness, SBA, Residential Construction and Mortgage, Manufactured Housing, Private Banking, and Cash Management.

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Board Appoints Lead Independent Director - Page 2

More information about Community West Bancshares and Community West Bank can be found at www.communitywestbank.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Debbie Nalchajian-Cohen

559-222-1322