Community Bank of the Bay is bucking the trend of fewer branches, moving its Danville, California office to a larger location and adding a loan office in San Mateo. The bank was initially advised by its financial backers that a branch wasn't needed as banks increasingly opt for online- and mobile-banking options. But along the way, they had a change of heart. "A branch is a bit of a security blanket. There are those 'emergency times' when you need to run into a bank," said CEO Bill Keller, citing the need to get a cashier's check or explore loan options to complete a deal. The bank hopes the move will foster its close connection to the Danville community. "To me that's the real value of the CDFI designation," Keller said. "It clearly articulates what we're all about."