ACB: Press Releases

Contact:	Robert Schmermund (202) 857-3104 Jim Eberle (202) 857-3145	Jim Eberle (202) 857-3145 (work) (703) 893-2593 (home) [email protected]	For Immediate Release October 2, 2003 #03-45
E-mail: [email protected]

SIX WOMEN MEMBERS OF AMERICA’S COMMUNITY BANKERS HONORED BY U.S. BANKER MAGAZINE

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six women bankers whose community banks are members of America’s Community Bankers, have been honored by U.S. Banker magazine. The six bankers were among 4,700 nominations received by the magazine.

U.S. Banker placed five of the bankers among the magazine’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking. They are: Marion Sandler, co-chair, World Savings and Loan Association, Oakland; Deanna Oppenheimer, president of the banking and financial services group, Washington Mutual Bank, Seattle; E. Lee Beard, former president and CEO, First Federal Bank, Hazleton, Pa.; Peyton R. Patterson, president and CEO, New Haven Savings Bank, New Haven, Conn.; and Karen McCormick, president and CEO, First Federal Savings and Loan Association, Port Angeles, Wash.

Selected as one of the Women Bankers to Watch was Babette Heimbuch, chairman and CEO, First Federal Bank of California, Santa Monica.

“This is an extraordinary group of women bankers,” said Diane Casey-Landry, president and CEO of America’s Community Bankers. “Each in her own way has left a mark on the banking industry and deserves the recognition that U.S. Banker has bestowed. We congratulate them on their achievements and for being honored.”

Sandler and her husband bought Golden West Financial/World Savings 40 years ago and turned the small thrift into an institution with $70 billion in assets and one of the most profitable companies in the country. She is one of only a few women heading a Fortune 500 company.

Oppenheimer began her career in banking with Washington Mutual in 1985. Ten years later she was named head of consumer banking. While other banks were closing branches, Oppenheimer spearheaded the bank’s retail expansion from a few regional branches to a nationwide network of 1,700 branches and $1 billion in consumer business.

Beard served as ACB’s first woman chair in 1999 and testified before Congress in favor of the structural changes to the banking industry and the improvements to the Federal Home Loan Bank System that were ultimately included in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. During her 10 years of service to First Federal in Hazleton, she transformed the community bank into a full service financial institution.

Patterson has more than 20 years of banking experience with senior management positions at large-scale commercial banks and community based savings banks. Under her leadership, she has put New Haven Savings back on a profitable path. She is now engaged in executing the simultaneous acquisition of two community banks while converting New Haven Savings to stock ownership.

McCormick began her 26 year career in banking at First Federal in Port Angeles, Wash., as a teller. As she advanced to the top of the bank, her front-line experience equipped her, as a “turnaround CEO,” to lead the bank out of tough times. At the same time, McCormick became a community and industry leader. She currently leads important community revitalization projects and is serving as president of the Thrift Institutions Advisory Council to the Federal Reserve.

Since Heimbuch joined First Federal in Santa Monica 21 years ago as chief financial officer, the bank’s assets have grown nearly 17-fold. And since she took the helm in 1997, the bank has enjoyed record earnings. Under her leadership, the bank has been cited for its social responsibility in the community. At the national level, Heimbuch is a board member of America’s Community Bankers and serves on the Thrift Institutions Advisory Council to the Federal Reserve.

America’s Community Bankers is the national trade association committed to shaping the future of banking by being the innovative industry leader strengthening the competitive position of community banks. To learn more about ACB, visit www.AmericasCommunityBankers.com.

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