The further expansion of San Diego Commercial Banking team is with the hire of two senior bankers. James R. Wade, a 27-year banking and finance veteran, has joined Opus Bank as Managing Director, Senior Client Manager, Commercial Banking; and Chris Stratton, a 20-year banking and finance veteran, has joined as Managing Director, Business Development Officer.
Jim Haney, Executive Vice President, Head of Commercial Banking, said:. “James and Chris are highly regarded banking veterans who share Opus’ approach to relationship-based commercial banking and have a tremendous depth of experience providing tailored solutions to entrepreneurs, business owners, and middle market companies.
“Throughout his banking career, Jim has experienced considerable success providing growth capital and treasury management solutions to privately held companies and middle market corporations in San Diego. We look forward to San Diego-based companies benefiting from Jim’s local market knowledge as we grow the division’s client base across Southern California and the other major metropolitan markets on the West Coast.
“Chris brings to Opus’ Business Development team his 20 years of experience and success in San Diego County providing sophisticated and tailored client centric financial solutions to small to mid-sized businesses, middle market companies, and real estate investors. His addition better positions Opus in San Diego County to deliver the full force of the firm and accelerate Opus’ organic growth by further leveraging existing client relationships, our strategic business partners, our market presence, and brand recognition.”
Stephen H. Gordon, Chief Executive Officer and President of Opus Bank, commented, “Opus holds a strong commitment to San Diego County, having opened our first banking office in the county in 2012. Today, we serve our San Diego-based clients through a team of 17 deeply rooted bankers in four banking offices, which collectively hold over $200 million of deposits and approximately $1.0 billion of loans. We appreciate how critical it is to have strong local banking talent from San Diego, serving our clients in San Diego. Jim and Chris both have strong ties to the region, each having two decades of banking and finance experience serving clients in San Diego and as alumni of San Diego State University.”