Deborah (Debbie) A. Meekins is executive vice president and retail banking director for Sterling Savings Bank. Debbie joined Sterling in 2007 with the Sonoma National Bank acquisition. Previously, Debbie was president and chief executive officer of Sonoma National Bank and its parent financial holding company, Northern Empire Bancshares.
She joined the bank in 1985 as vice president and CFO and became President and CEO in 1990. Debbie grew the Bank’s assets to $1.3 billion and oversaw 13 branches and 6 loan production offices. The bank was nationally recognized for growth, earnings and efficiency ratio. Debbie has more than 34 years of banking experience. In her new role as executive vice President and retail banking director she manages 176 branches and a dealer banking department. This area of the bank is the largest consisting of almost 2,000 people.
In 2006, she was named one of the top “25 Women to Watch” by U.S. Banker Magazine. In May 2007 she received an award for “Best Business Community Leader” in Sonoma County from the North Bay Biz Magazine based on a reader’s poll. Also the bank has been voted as one of the area’s “Best Business Banks”.
Debbie is very active in the Santa Rosa community serving as a board member of the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation and Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, as well as an advisory board member for Children’s Village. She is currently a Board Member for the California Bankers Association.
Sterling Financial Corporation
NASDAQ: STSA
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