Christopher Neros joined First Fed Bank‘s executive team as executive vice president and chief lending officer.

“Chris is a well-respected leader with a successful track record of business development, relationship management and team leadership. He will bring valuable experience and strategic direction to our lending initiatives,” Matt Deines, president and CEO of First Fed Bank and First Northwest Bank, said.

“First Fed is on an exciting growth trajectory, anchored by a 100-year legacy of outstanding service. I look forward to strengthening our business relationships by collaborating with our team, our partners and our customers on business opportunities,” Neros said.

Neros previously held lending and leadership roles for more than 15 years at Peoples Bank in Bellingham, WA. As chief lending officer at Peoples Bank, Neros oversaw the bank-wide lending strategy of all commercial and marine lending activities. He was formerly a member of the loan committee for the Northwest Business Development Association and a volunteer Kenpo instructor.

Neros also gained 10 years of lending and retail banking experience at First National Bank Alaska. He was a board member for the Sitka Economic Development Association, the Center for Community and Sitka Tribal Enterprises while in Sitka, AK.