Brentwood-based Sonata Bank is carving a specific niche in the financial services industry as a digital-first financial company offering business and personal banking, while also servicing quick-service restaurant franchisees across the United States.
Launched in 2022, Sonata is seeing growth in its deposits, commercial and industrial loans and real estate lending, and in August reached its first month of profitability, according to the company.
Wendell Bontrager, Sonata Bank CEO
Courtesy of CEO
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