Stephen Russell

Responsible for marketing interest rate derivatives products to Corporate and Commercial clients, as well as the Environmental Services, Beverage and Agriculture verticals, in California.

• Generated $8.3 million in revenue in 2024 on 150 transactions, 80% of which were creative restructurings of existing trades and not tied to new loan origination
• Executed a variety of transactions, including plain vanilla swaps, cancelable swaps, caps and collars
• Successfully transitioned the Union Bank derivatives book to US Bank following the acquisition in 2022
• Lead a team of three professionals to deepen trading relationships in the CA market

Player/coach for a team of five derivatives sales professionals, offering interest rate hedging transactions to Union Bank clients in CA, OR and WA.

• Transformed the team from a reactive sales approach into a proactive sales culture, focusing on creative solutions to meet clients' financial objectives
• Increased revenue from ~$20 million to $52 million, averaging $35 million over a 10-year span
• Individual production averaged ~$18 million in revenue
• Territories included Commercial Banking, Business Banking, Private Wealth and Commercial Real Estate on the west coast
• Co-led the Libor transition project for Union Bank in partnership with the commerical line of business by formulating an appropriate strategy, coordinating with the various business lines, educating internal and external stakeholders, overseeing the documentation process and supporting the operational transition

Responsibilities included consulting with financial institutions to implement white label derivatives sales programs to support their clients and improve asset-liability management.

• Launched a direct marketing product offering to commercial banks to provide sales support to end users
• The new product offering increased revenue by 60% from the basic offering
• Educated bank staff on the benefits of offering risk management products to drive fee income while improving the bank's interest rate sensitivity

Provided interest rate solutions to Energy, Healthcare and Franchise Finance clients of GE Capital.

• Worked in a two-man team to educate internal stakeholders on the benefits of hedging while directly interacting with end users to drive fee income

Managed a team of interest rate professionals, offering hedging solutions to commercial clients, private individuals and financial institutions.

• Territories included the Northeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest
• Educated internal stakeholders to reinforce the value of hedging and to fully integrate the product into debt products
• Revenues increased 50% over a five year time span

Launched Regions Bank's client facing interest rate derivatives sales team.

• Exceeded first year's budget of $3 million by 300% in 9 months
• Rolled out an extensive training program to bankers and credit partners to familiarize stakeholders with the product and sales approach

Marketed interest rate solutions to Commercial Real Estate clients throughout the Southeast.

• Increased revenue from $1 million to $9 million in a three year time span
• Products sold included swaps, cancelable swaps, pre-issuance hedging, caps and collars
• Prior to joining the trading desk, spent two years in the International Division supporting short-term trade finance activities with financial institutions in Latin America

Embarked on a financial services career upon graduating from college.

• Completed a one-year intensive credit training program
• Interned for one-year in the Asset Based Lending group, underwriting credit and performing field audits to confirm collateral levels
• Spent two years in the Special Assets Group, working out of non accrual and special mention credits