SEATTLE, Wash., Jan. 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Washington Federal (NASDAQ:WAFD) announced the promotion of Robert D. "Bob" Peters to manage its Commercial Banking Group. Peters joined Washington Federal one year ago as the Director of Corporate Banking. He previously spent 28 years with Bank of America where he served as their Washington state president and commercial market executive in Seattle. Prior to that, he served as Bank of America's senior vice president and manager of middle market commercial banking for Western Washington, Western Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. Peters holds a bachelor's degree in International Studies and an MBA from the University of Washington. He has served on the boards of the Washington Roundtable, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance for Education, and the School Board Leaders for the Future.
The new role combines two positions and is part of the Company's long-term succession plan. Executive Vice President Jack B. Jacobson, who has served as the Manager of the Commercial Real Estate Group since 2000, is retiring from that position; however, he will remain with the Company on a reduced schedule in an executive capacity, focused primarily on business development. Executive Vice President Thomas E. Kasanders, who has headed the Company's Business Banking Group for the past six years, and has been with the Company since 2004, will also step down as part of the Company's succession plan. He will remain in an executive position responsible for Treasury Management, WAFD Insurance and the commercial credit training program, until his planned retirement at the end of 2016.
Chairman, President & CEO Roy M. Whitehead commented, "Washington Federal is quite fortunate to attract an executive with Bob's extensive commercial banking experience, market knowledge and track record of leadership. I'd also like to express the Company's appreciation to Jack and Tom for working with the Board of Directors to execute a smooth transition of leadership in our commercial banking lines of business."
Washington Federal, Inc. is the parent company of Washington Federal, a national bank that operates 247 branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Established in 1917, the bank provides consumer and commercial deposit accounts, insurance products, and financing for small to middle market businesses, commercial real estate and residential real estate, including consumer mortgages and home equity lines of credit. As of September 30, 2015, the Company reported $14.6 billion in assets, $10.6 billion in deposits and $2.0 billion in stockholders' equity.
Contact:
Washington Federal, Inc.
425 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Amanda Maier
206-626-8178
amanda.maier(at)wafd.com
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