Opus Bank announced Matt Christensen has joined Opus as Senior Managing Director, Commercial Banking – Northern California within Opus’ Commercial Bank, and as Senior Managing Director, Corporate Finance within Opus’ Merchant Bank. Christensen, a 31-year banking veteran, is responsible for expanding Opus’ commercial and corporate client base, as well as leading, managing, and growing the presence and impact of Opus’ Commercial Banking division in the San Francisco Bay Area. Christensen will additionally focus on advising and expanding Opus’ relationships with middle- market companies engaging in M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, and other strategic ownership changes.
Stephen H. Gordon, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Opus Bank stated, “We are thrilled that Matt has joined Opus to lead our Commercial Banking and Corporate Finance divisions in the San Francisco Bay Area. Matt is a highly regarded and experienced banker who shares Opus’ approach to relationship-based banking, where our bankers are viewed as trusted advisors in their approach to delivering tailored financial solutions to those entrepreneurs, businesses, and middle market companies with the vision and ability to expand and grow.”
Christensen joins Opus Bank most recently from Bridge Bank where he served as Senior Vice President, San Francisco Regional Manager. While at Bridge Bank, Christensen provided regional management of the Technology Banking, Corporate Banking, and asset-based lending teams. From 2011 to 2013, Christensen served as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Manager at City National Bank where he managed teams responsible for expanding client relationships with middle-market businesses and corporations and originating working capital facilities and asset-based and commercial real estate loans. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Christensen served as Western Region Team Leader for Merrill Lynch’s commercial lending group. Following the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America, Christensen served as Senior Vice President, Client Manager – Middle Market Banking at Bank of America / Merrill Lynch where he was responsible for directing the underwriting and treasury teams managing a $250 million portfolio comprised of commercial and industrial, leveraged finance, asset-based, and commercial real estate loans.
From 1997 to 2007, Christensen served in a variety of capacities with GE Capital Corporation, including Managing Director, Sponsor Finance; Senior Vice President, Team Leader - Retail and Restructuring; and Senior Vice President, Team Leader – Corporate Lending. These teams closed over $2 billion of financings including turnaround financings, leveraged loans, and general commercial and industrial loans. Earlier in his career, Christensen served as a Vice President in business development roles with Sanwa Bank; Union Bank, formerly California First Bank; and Security Pacific Corporation. Mr. Christensen began his banking career in 1983 with Union Bank where he originated, underwrote, and managed relationships with middle-market companies.
Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with over $4.7 billion of total assets, $3.7 billion of total loans, and $3.5 billion in total deposits as of September 30, 2014. Opus Bank provides high-value, relationship-based banking products, services, and solutions to its clients through its Retail Bank, Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank, and Correspondent Bank. Opus Bank offers a suite of treasury and cash management and depository solutions and a wide range of loan products, including commercial business, healthcare, technology, multifamily residential, commercial real estate, and structured finance, and is an SBA preferred lender.