Opus Bank announced Donika A. Schnell has joined Opus as Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Healthcare Banking. Schnell will be responsible for further expanding, and providing capital financing and banking solutions to, Opus’ healthcare client base, particularly hospitals, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, hospice centers, home health agencies, outpatient care centers, healthcare systems, medical technology companies, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare-related manufacturing companies, and service providers to those in the healthcare industry.

Additionally, Opus announced today that Evan Barker, Opus’ Senior Managing Director, Healthcare Banking has been named Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Healthcare Banking. Barker will continue to lead and expand Opus’ focus on providing capital financing and banking solutions to dental, medical, veterinary, and ophthalmology healthcare professionals for healthcare practice acquisitions and expansions, partner buy-ins and buy-outs, equipment financing, and facilities acquisitions, improvements, and relocations.

Schnell, a 19-year health care banking veteran, joins Opus most recently from BBVA Compass Bank (“Compass”), where she served as Senior Vice President, Healthcare Commercial Banking. Ms. Schnell led Compass’ healthcare banking efforts in the Western region, which accounted for over $400 million of fundings in 2012. From 2002 to 2011, Ms. Schnell served as Director – Business Development for CapitalSource Finance LLC and established and ran its presence in the West Coast markets, as well as in the State of Texas. Earlier, Ms. Schnell held similar positions with GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services, Heller Healthcare Finance, and DVI Business Credit. Throughout her banking career, Schnell has focused on providing debt financing and banking solutions to healthcare providers and professionals, including cash flow loans for acquisitions and refinancing, asset-based healthcare loans, healthcare related real estate debt financing, working capital lines of credit, bridge loans, and syndication of multi-lender facilities. Ms. Schnell started her career with KPMG, where she served as a Hospital Consultant, and the University of Chicago Hospitals, as a Senior Accountant.

Stephen H. Gordon, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Opus Bank stated, “The combination of Evan and Donika, as Co-Heads of Healthcare Banking, covers the full spectrum of healthcare from professionals to service providers.” Mr. Gordon added, “Given the rapidly changing healthcare environment, their combined years of industry specific knowledge and expertise will help enable Opus to be viewed as the go-to bank for healthcare professionals, providers, and sponsors seeking tailored banking products, services, and solutions, as they navigate their way through the myriad of challenges they will face as they expand and grow.” Gordon concluded, “I look forward to Donika’s strong leadership and contribution as we expand Opus’ Healthcare Banking team and execute on the long-term plan to strategically grow Opus to becoming a dominant relationship-based regional bank on the West Coast.”