Plumas Bank Installs New Credit Leaders Amid Growth and Market Shifts

QUINCY, CA – January 02, 2026 – Plumas Bank, a subsidiary of Plumas Bancorp (NASDAQ: PLBC), has fortified its credit administration leadership, promoting two long-serving insiders to steer the bank's portfolio through a period of significant growth and evolving economic conditions. Effective January 1, 2026, Kevin Kaiser has ascended to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, while Ryan Riggan has been named Senior Vice President and Credit Administrator.

The appointments follow the planned retirement of former Chief Credit Officer Jeff Moore, who concluded his tenure on December 31, 2025. This seamless internal succession underscores the community bank's long-term strategy of leveraging institutional knowledge to maintain stability and manage risk, particularly as it integrates a major acquisition and navigates a complex credit environment.

Navigating a More Complex Credit Landscape

The new leadership team takes the helm at a pivotal moment for the 45-year-old institution. Plumas Bank's financial landscape was reshaped by its acquisition of Cornerstone Community Bancorp, which closed on July 1, 2025. While the merger expanded the bank's footprint and asset base, it also introduced new complexities to its credit profile.

Financial filings from the third quarter of 2025 reveal the immediate impact of this expansion. Nonperforming assets (NPAs) rose to $15.2 million, or 0.68% of total assets, a notable increase from $4.8 million, or 0.29% of assets, in the prior year. Bank officials attributed this increase primarily to the assets acquired from Cornerstone. Furthermore, the bank recorded a provision for credit losses of $5.4 million in the third quarter alone, driven by a required $5.0 million provision on loans acquired in the merger.

Even before the acquisition, the bank demonstrated the challenges inherent in its core lending markets. In the second quarter of 2025, nonperforming loans saw a significant spike, largely due to a single agricultural loan relationship totaling $9.9 million being placed on nonaccrual status. This event highlights the specialized risks within agricultural lending and underscores the value of experienced leadership with deep expertise in the sector.

A Strategy of Stability Through Internal Succession

Plumas Bank's leadership transition is a deliberate move to ensure continuity and steady oversight of its now-larger loan portfolio. By promoting from within, the bank retains decades of specialized experience and deep familiarity with its regional markets.

Kevin Kaiser, the new Chief Credit Officer, brings nearly 40 years of industry experience, with a strong background in the critical areas of commercial and agricultural lending. Having joined Plumas Bank in 2014 and served as Credit Administrator since 2019, he worked directly alongside his predecessor, Jeff Moore, ensuring a smooth transfer of knowledge. Kaiser's new responsibilities include oversight of portfolio management, special assets, and all loan servicing and documentation—key functions for maintaining credit quality. His academic background in Agricultural and Business Management from California State University, Chico, further solidifies his expertise in a vital segment of the bank's customer base.

He inherits a department modernized by Moore, who implemented new underwriting platforms and refined credit policies. Kaiser is now tasked with applying this framework to a larger, more diverse balance sheet.

Supporting him is Ryan Riggan, the new Credit Administrator. With nearly 25 years in banking, Riggan has been with Plumas since 2016, most recently as the Senior Vice President and SBA Credit Manager. In that role, he was instrumental in updating the bank's government-guaranteed credit policies, a crucial component of its small business lending strategy. His promotion signals the continued strategic importance of SBA lending to the bank's growth.

“These changes reinforce our long-term strategy to drive sustainable growth, manage risk effectively, and deliver value to our clients and shareholders,” said Andrew J. Ryback, president and chief executive officer of Plumas Bank. “By promoting experienced leaders from within our organization, we ensure business continuity and strengthen our ability to execute on strategic priorities. With Jeff’s outstanding legacy and the leadership and expertise of Kevin and Ryan, Plumas Bank remains well positioned to support our clients, communities and investors into the future.”

Bolstering Community and Small Business Lending

The promotions of Kaiser and Riggan are particularly relevant to the bank's identity as a community-focused lender. Kaiser's deep roots in agricultural finance directly address the needs of a key economic driver in the bank's Northern California and Nevada territories. His leadership is poised to provide stability and informed risk management for local farmers and agribusinesses.

Meanwhile, Riggan's expertise reinforces Plumas Bank's formidable presence in Small Business Administration (SBA) lending. The bank holds a nationwide Preferred Lender status with the SBA and has funded nearly $1 billion in SBA 7(a) loans since 2007. This program is a cornerstone of its strategy, serving small businesses across seven western states.

Notably, the bank has maintained a default rate of less than 1% on its SBA loans, a testament to what it calls its “common-sense lending” and consistent credit policies. In response to rising interest rates, the bank strategically pivoted to offering fixed-rate SBA loans, retaining them on its balance sheet to provide borrowers with payment stability. Riggan’s elevation to a broader credit administration role suggests this successful and risk-conscious approach to government-guaranteed lending will continue to be a central pillar of the bank’s operations.

This commitment to local and small business clients has not gone unnoticed. For seven consecutive years, Plumas Bancorp has received the Raymond James Bankers Cup, placing it in the top 10% of community banks of its size. It has also consistently earned top ratings from The Findley Reports and American Banker, cementing its reputation for high performance and prudent management. The new credit leadership team is now charged with upholding this legacy of excellence as the bank navigates its next chapter of growth.