Cascade Federal Credit Union in Kent, Wash., turned to the banking industry to recruit its next leader. The $347 million-asset credit union said in a press release that it hired Sam Jimenez as its president and CEO. Jiminez succeeded Sarah Richardson, who will remain with the credit union through the end of this year to assist with the transition. Jiminez recently served as CEO of 1st Capital Bank in Salinas, Calif.,

Axos Financial in San Diego has formed a technology and life sciences banking division after recruiting a banker from City National Bank. The company said in a press release that Rod Werner will lead the division. He was head of the technology banking division at City National. The new division will have teams in San Francisco, Boston, New York, Los Angeles and Palo Alto, Calif. The division will offer recurring revenue

Insight Credit Union in Winter Springs, Fla., has agreed to a sale-leaseback transaction involving three branches. The credit union sold the locations to MountainSeed Real Estate Services in Atlanta for about $9.6 million. Insight then agreed to lease the branches for an initial 15-year term with a 15-year renewal option. The lease rate wasn't disclosed. “We believe leveraging the value in our previously owned locations is a wise decision," George

Organizers of a proposed New Orleans de novo plan to open the bank as a minority depository institution. The group behind the proposed InclusiveBANK primarily intends to serve low- and moderate-income communities around New Orleans, according to its application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. "However, this will not be the bank’s sole mission as we intend to be inclusive of all of the needs of everyone in our communities,"

Wilson Bank & Trust in Lebanon, Tenn., has agreed to buy a Cookeville, Tenn., branch from F&M Financial in Clarksville, Tenn. The $5 billion-asset Wilson Bank said in a press release that it will also gain about $35 million of deposits and most of the branch's loans from the purchase, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025. The price wasn't disclosed. "This transaction allows us to

Farmers Savings Bank in Colesburg, Iowa, has agreed to buy Elgin State Bank in Elgin, Iowa. The $235.5 million-asset Farmers Savings submitted their application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Nov. 12. The price wasn't disclosed. The $28.6 million-asset Elgin State has two branches. "Even though the [branches] will operate under a new name and ownership, the current staff looks forward to continuing to serve you in the same

A former executive at Nano Banc in Irvine, Calif., has been barred from working in the banking industry. The Federal Reserve also said in a press release that it fined Anthony Gressak III $75,000 after he allegedly obtained pandemic relief funds fraudulently, among other things. Gressak, who co-founded the $958 million-asset bank, resigned as its interim CEO in 2022. Gressak had also been the bank's chief credit officer. The Fed claimed

Malvern Bank in Malvern, Iowa, will soon have a new president. The $216 million-asset bank said in a press release that Kate McGann will take on the role on Jan. 1. She is the bank's chief lending officer and is on the board. Jay Burdic will remain chairman and CEO. "The growth experienced by Malvern Bank and the community in recent years has been transformational and I look forward to