Local mom, Unique Martinez, says she used the ATMs at Santa Maria's Bank of America branch on South Broadway two weeks ago, and within hours, the money in her Electronic Benefits Card was wiped out.

About a year ago, KSBY news reporter Jacob Dizon met with a Santa Maria mother who had the balance on her Electronics Benefits account wiped after her card was skimmed at a local ATM.

In June 2000, Glines and Hares, Bank of Santa Maria’s former president, joined forces to bring back hometown banking, kicking off the legal process followed by the opening in March 2001.