Banc of California, a wholly owned subsidiary of Banc of California, announced that Chris Hague has joined the company as Executive Vice President and Head of Specialty Finance. In this role, Hague oversees the bank’s teams in Lender Finance, Asset-Based Lending (ABL), and Corporate Asset Finance and Commercial Aviation (CAF). Hague is also a member of the bank’s Senior Management Committee. Hague is based in Chicago and reports to Hamid Hussain, President of the bank.

Hague is an industry leader with more than 25 years of experience. He was the Group Head for the Lender Finance Group at Pacific Western Bank (PacWest) until the portfolio was sold prior to the merger with Banc of California. At PacWest, Hague and his team provided senior receivable-backed credit facilities ranging from $10 million to $150 million to consumer and commercial finance companies on a direct basis, and on an indirect basis to credit funds that acquired financed loan pools.

Banc of California moved Lender Finance back to its core portfolio in July 2024. The bank repurchased at par more than $350 million of the loans PacWest sold prior to the merger, and for which the bank had retained servicing. With Hague and the following industry veterans rejoining, Banc of California is looking to grow its Lender Finance portfolio.

Jeff Galle has rejoined Banc of California as Managing Director of Lender Finance. He is responsible for developing new small- and middle-market ABL deals among banks, private equity firms, investment banks, intermediaries, lawyers, turnaround consultants, and other lenders and professional groups. Prior to this, he was Managing Director of Business Development for PacWest’s Lender Finance Group, focused on revolving and term note credit facilities between $15 million and $150 million for consumer and commercial finance companies.

Scott Lisman has returned to Banc of California as Senior Director, Lender Finance, where he sources, underwrites and closes transactions. He also serves as the primary Relationship Manager for clients. Lisman previously was a Senior Vice President of the Lender Finance Group for Capital Bank in Rockville, Maryland.

Thomas Scott has rejoined Banc of California as an Investment Officer in Lender Finance, where he analyzes, evaluates, structures, underwrites and closes lending opportunities. He previously was with Capital Bank’s Lender Finance Group. Prior to that, Scott was a member of the Mortgage Rediscount team at PacWest, which originated senior term loans and revolving credit facilities to borrowers in the mortgage and real estate industries.
In addition, Andrew Hawking, Managing Director of the ABL Group, who has been with Banc of California for 10 years, now reports to Hague, along with Harold Kugelman, Managing Director of CAF, who has been with the bank since 2013. Hawking and Kugelman are among the best bankers in their respective industry segments with deep experience and long track records of success.

“We are committed to growing our Specialty Finance lending businesses, and I am proud to welcome this team of dedicated experts to help our valued clients,” Hussain said. “Having these established and successful bankers choose to work for Banc of California is a testament to our culture and our focus on excellent client service. Their experience in specialty lending will support our growth and further solidify us as one of the nation’s premier business banks as we bring our unique relationship-based model to even more clients across the country.”

Hague commented, “My colleagues and I are thrilled to join Banc of California. Banc of California, following its combination with PacWest, has done a great job integrating the teams and is clearly poised for growth. We are excited to contribute to this growth and take advantage of our deep expertise and attractive market position.”