Oak Valley Bancorp Director Gary Strong Acquires 2,000 Shares in Open Market Transaction

Director Share Purchase at $32.50 Per Share

Gary Strong, who serves as a director at Oak Valley Bancorp, executed an open market purchase of 2,000 shares of the company's common stock on July 27, 2026. The transaction was completed at a price of $32.50 per share, according to the filing. This purchase reflects a direct acquisition of equity, meaning Strong personally owns these shares rather than holding them through any indirect vehicle or trust structure. The transaction was conducted in the open market, consistent with routine insider buying activity at publicly traded companies.

The filing indicates that this was a standard market purchase rather than an exercise of options, a conversion of securities, or any other derivative transaction. Strong executed the purchase on his own behalf without any indication of a structured trading plan or contract arrangement under Rule 10b5-1. The transaction date of July 27, 2026, marks the earliest and only transaction date disclosed in this report, suggesting this was a single acquisition rather than a series of staged purchases.

Beneficial Ownership Position Following the Transaction

Following the completion of this purchase, Gary Strong's direct beneficial ownership in Oak Valley Bancorp totaled 14,842 shares. This figure represents his total accumulated position in the company as of the transaction date. The disclosure of beneficial ownership amounts allows investors and shareholders to monitor the equity stakes held by company insiders and assess the alignment of director interests with those of other shareholders.

Direct ownership means that Strong holds clear legal title to these shares in his own name, as opposed to indirect ownership through a spouse, trust, corporation, partnership, or other entity. The filing does not indicate that Strong holds any additional beneficial interests in the company through indirect means, though such information would be separately disclosed if applicable. This transparency requirement is designed to ensure that investors have visibility into the magnitude of insider stakes in the company.

Director Status and Reporting Obligations

The filing confirms that Gary Strong is a director of Oak Valley Bancorp and subject to the beneficial ownership reporting requirements mandated under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Directors, along with officers and beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of a company's equity securities, are required to file reports when they acquire or dispose of securities in the company. The disclosure document explicitly identifies Strong's relationship to the company by checking the "Director" box in the applicable section.

Strong's residence is listed as Oakdale, California, consistent with Oak Valley Bancorp's operational footprint as a regional financial institution serving California markets. The filing was signed on July 27, 2026, the same date as the transaction, indicating prompt disclosure compliance. This timely reporting demonstrates adherence to regulatory filing deadlines, which generally require insiders to report transactions within two business days of execution.

Open Market Transaction Without Trading Plan

The filing does not indicate that this purchase was executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which would represent a pre-arranged contract or instruction for purchasing or selling securities. The absence of a Rule 10b5-1 plan notation suggests that this was a discretionary open market purchase made directly by Strong without a predetermined trading arrangement. This distinction is relevant to investors assessing whether insider buying represents opportunistic accumulation or part of a systematic portfolio rebalancing program.

Under Rule 10b5-1, insiders can establish binding contracts to trade company securities on specified schedules or upon the occurrence of certain conditions, allowing them to avoid potential allegations of trading on material nonpublic information. The fact that this transaction was not executed under such a plan indicates it was a spontaneous market purchase. However, the filing provides no commentary from Strong regarding his motivation for the purchase or his outlook on the company.

Form 4 Disclosure Requirements and Investor Access

This report was filed on Form 4, the standard disclosure document used to report changes in beneficial ownership by company insiders. Form 4 filings are publicly available through the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR system and are typically disseminated to financial data providers and news services. These disclosures enable investors, analysts, and researchers to monitor insider transaction activity and identify patterns of buying or selling that may signal confidence or concern about company prospects.

The Form 4 filing requirement applies to any transaction in company securities, regardless of the size or dollar amount. By filing this report, Oak Valley Bancorp and Gary Strong comply with federal securities laws that mandate transparency of insider trading activity. Investors monitoring insider transactions often view consistent buying activity by directors and officers as a positive signal of management confidence, though historical price performance and business fundamentals remain critical to investment decision-making.

Regional Bank Context and Director Engagement

Oak Valley Bancorp operates as a regional financial institution headquartered in California. The company's director engagement in share purchases reflects typical governance activity at community and regional banking institutions, where board members often maintain direct equity stakes in the company. Director share ownership can align leadership incentives with shareholder returns and demonstrate commitment to the institution's long-term success.

The purchase of 2,000 shares represents a meaningful but not extraordinary equity commitment by an insider at a regional bank. Such transactions are common among directors who wish to increase or maintain their ownership positions. The filing does not disclose whether Strong has any other economic interests in the company, such as outstanding options or warrants, though any such holdings would be separately reported in the derivative securities section of Form 4 filings.

Market Price Context and Valuation Signals

The $32.50 per share purchase price establishes a reference point for Oak Valley Bancorp's equity value as of July 27, 2026. This price represents the transaction price at which an insider was willing to acquire additional shares in the company. While insider purchase prices do not necessarily reflect current market valuations or represent a directional forecast, they can provide context for the valuation range that insiders consider reasonable for the company's equity.

Investors analyzing insider transactions often cross-reference purchase prices with historical trading data and current market conditions to assess whether insiders are buying at relative discounts or premiums to recent price ranges. However, the filing itself does not provide information about the company's recent trading history, analyst estimates, or broader market conditions that would inform a complete valuation analysis. The immediate share price impact was not clear from available public information.

Filing Compliance and Signature Authority

The Form 4 was executed and signed by Gary Strong on July 27, 2026, the same date as the transaction. The filing includes the required certifications and warnings regarding the legal consequences of providing false or misleading information. The document notes that intentional misstatements or omissions of facts in a Form 4 filing constitute federal criminal violations under 18 U.S.C. Section 1001 and 15 U.S.C. Section 78ff(a).

The filing was submitted as a single-person Form 4 rather than a joint filing, consistent with Strong's individual capacity as a director and shareholder. The document includes the requisite administrative information, including OMB approval numbers and burden hour estimates. These compliance requirements ensure the integrity and standardization of insider transaction reporting across all publicly traded companies subject to SEC jurisdiction.

Investor Monitoring and Disclosure Significance

Insider transaction filings serve as a valuable source of information for investors seeking to understand management and director confidence in their company's prospects. While a single share purchase by one director represents only one data point, patterns of insider buying across multiple executives or repeated purchases by the same individual can signal conviction about fair valuation or upcoming positive developments. Conversely, regular selling activity can indicate concerns or portfolio rebalancing needs.

Investors may monitor Form 4 filings for Oak Valley Bancorp to track cumulative insider activity over time. Analytical platforms and financial news services aggregate insider trading data to identify trends and provide context. However, insider transactions should always be evaluated in conjunction with company financial statements, earnings reports, industry conditions, and other material information. A single share purchase does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation, and investors should conduct comprehensive due diligence before making decisions based on insider trading activity.