Maria Baptista Soria is the Vice President, Director of Community Relations for Five Star Bank. In this role, she serves as the principal ambassador for Five Star Bank, enhancing brand outreach by building relationships with current and new partners within the local community. In addition, she also supports in enhancing DE&I outreach and engagement. A Sacramento native, Maria brings over 16 years of experience in the private and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining Five Star Bank, Maria (a Sacramento native) made an indelible mark through her work with various Chambers of Commerce, both locally and statewide, including positions with the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce as Vice President, Program Integration, the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce as Director of Foundation Programs, and the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Member Services and Director of the Capital Region Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Maria is an individual of service and prides herself on being a community connector. She loves to mentor others, especially young women and men of color, to help provide them with career guidance as well as how to be the best leaders in their community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, their daughter, Selena and their son, RJ.