A branching cell-fate decision in biofilm dispersal enables long-term surface persistence

, we show that dispersal events are accompanied by a branching cell-fate decision. While ∼90% of cells disperse, a viable subpopulation remains within a residual matrix. This post-dispersal biofilm community (PDBC) is established by the matrix protein RbmA and adopts a specialized anabolic program that enhances tolerance to antibiotics and bacteriophages. Our findings reveal that PDBCs act as a resilient "seed-bank" capable of rapidly re-populating the niche without requiring de novo matrix biosynthesis, providing a mechanistic basis for the recurrence and spread of chronic infections.