Paul Simmons
EVP, Chief Credit Officer
Paul Simmons joined Sunwest Bank in 2020 as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. Mr. Simmons manages the bank’s asset quality and lending portfolios at Sunwest, which include credit risk management, policy, loan approvals, underwriting standards, and oversight of loan portfolio management.
Mr. Simmons has over 35 years of banking and financial services industry experience, including leadership roles with Citigroup, GE Capital, Apollo Real Estate Advisors, and Zions Bancorporation. He served as Chief Credit Officer for two publicly held banks prior to joining Sunwest Bank.
His broad experience spans CRE and C&I lending and investment, mortgage lending, problem loan workouts, CMBS lending and structuring, private equity, risk management/credit oversight, senior management, and operational leadership. Mr. Simmons spent 4+ years as an international banker in Latin America and has successfully led and implemented cultural and organizational transformations in public and private companies.
Mr. Simmons is a Risk Management Association of Orange County Chapter board member. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Rochester, Simon School of Business. He is a California native, lives with his wife in Corona del Mar, CA, and has four children.