Opus Bank expanded its Commercial Banking team with the hires of Tim Claridge and Tony Yee, each joining Opus as managing director, senior client manager based in the Pacific Northwest.

Claridge, a 21-year banking veteran, will be responsible for further expanding Opus’ commercial and corporate client base in the Tacoma, WA and Olympia, WA markets.

Yee, a 22-year banking and finance veteran, will be responsible for further expanding Opus’ commercial and corporate client base in the Seattle/Puget Sound region.

John Norawong, senior managing director, Commercial Banking, stated, “I’m confident that Tim and Tony’s over 40 years of combined experience structuring and delivering tailored senior debt financing, depository, treasury and cash management solutions to entrepreneurs, business owners and lower-middle and middle market companies will be immediately beneficial to Opus’ clients who have a vision to expand and grow.”

Claridge joined most recently from Columbia Bank, where from 2014 he served as vice president, commercial loan officer. While at Columbia, he was responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of middle market commercial clients in the South Sound markets of Tacoma and Olympia. From 2006 to 2014, he served as senior vice president, commercial loan officer at Timberland Bank, where he led a team of bankers focused on Commercial and Industrial and Commercial Real Estate Lending in the South Sound area. From 2005 to 2006, Claridge served as vice president, business relationship manager at Key Bank, where he was responsible for developing and growing a portfolio of lower middle market clients.

Yee joined Opus most recently from Umpqua Bank, where from 2014 he served as vice president, corporate relationship manager. While at Umpqua Bank, Yee was responsible for managing and growing a $100 million portfolio of middle market and upper middle market commercial clients across Western Washington. From 2013 to 2014, he served as vice president, senior relationship manager at Union Bank, where he focused on building client relationships with and providing financial solutions to upper middle market companies in the Pacific Northwest. From 2007 to 2013, Yee served as vice president, senior credit officer at Bank of the West, where he was responsible for analyzing, structuring and underwriting senior term credits and relationship management, focusing on middle market clients in Washington.