Stewart Named One of “25 Women to Watch” by Am

SEATTLE, Oct. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Laurie Stewart, President and CEO of Sound Community Bank, has been named one of 2017’s “25 Women to Watch” nationally by American Banker Magazine. 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...7897cf65f9

The “25 Women to Watch” is a ranking that honors top-performing female executives whose governance continues to shape the banking industry throughout the country.  “Stewart is among the exceptional leaders moving this industry forward,” said Executive Editor Bonnie McGeer, who chairs American Banker’s Women in Banking Editorial Committee.   “The women selected for this honor are tackling tough business challenges with great success.  The vision they bring to their work -- their diverse skill sets and extensive strategic responsibilities -- show that there are many ways to have a big impact.”

Laurie Stewart recently celebrated 26 years with Sound Community Bank.  In this 27 year span, Stewart led the conversion of the organization from a $38 million dollar credit union to a $621 million publically traded commercial bank.  She has a long history in community banking and participation in industry affairs.  Recognized by American Banker as one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking in 2011, 2015, and now in 2017, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington Bankers Association (WBA) and is immediate past Chair for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.  Stewart was recently selected as Vice Chairman on the American Bankers Association (ABA) slate of officers.  The position advances from Vice Chairman to Chairman-Elect, finally to Chairman over the course of the three-year term.  Stewart is a frequent speaker at conferences and colleges locally and nationally, and has testified in both Washington DC and Olympia, Washington on a variety of legislative and regulatory financial issues.  She helped create the WBA’s Executive Development Program which is now in its seventh year of existence.  Stewart is one of 14 bankers selected to serve on the inaugural FDIC Advisory Board and subsequently the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) Advisory Board.  In her free time Stewart enjoys volunteering for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), sewing, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family.  She is an avid reader and writer and enjoys theatre arts.

Sound Community Bank is a Seattle-based community bank, providing personal and business banking services in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Jefferson and Clallam Counties, and on the web at www.soundcb.com .  Sound Community Bank is a subsidiary of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFBC ).

More Information

• Link to American Banker Most Powerful Women in Banking: americanbanker.com/women-in-banking

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