Sunflower Bank created a Structured Finance Group to provide relationship-focused asset based lending and leveraged finance services to lower middle market companies and private equity investors.
TJ Kern, Structured Finance Group manager and team lead, Dustin Jacobson, managing director of Asset Based Lending, and David Harper, managing director of Leveraged Finance, joined Sunflower in Denver to provide structured finance capabilities across the bank’s footprint and beyond.
“Hiring this experienced Structured Finance Group is a great example of how our Commercial and Specialty Banking services provide innovative financial solutions that strengthen and build client relationships. The knowledge and depth of deal experience brought by TJ, Dustin, David, and the rest of the team enable Sunflower Bank to create a possibility for those seeking senior debt solutions and asset-based loans,” said James G. Fullerton, chief commercial and specialty banking officer.
Kern joined Sunflower Bank in January of this year to establish and lead the Structured Finance Group. He has over 30 years of commercial banking experience, including 12 years in leveraged finance. Kern previously served in progressively responsible commercial banking roles at national and regional banks.
As managing director of ABL, Jacobson will identify prospective borrowers and provide senior relationship management. He has more than 15 years of ABL and commercial banking experience, most recently with a $4 billion regional community bank where he helped build the ABL platform. Prior to that, Jacobson spent 13 years at a national bank in roles with increasing responsibilities.
Harper will be responsible for identifying and managing leveraged finance and other corporate banking opportunities. His career has included leadership roles in investment banking, private equity, operating companies and commercial banking. Harper was previously CFO of a private company, responsible for returning it to profitability and bank covenant compliance, before serving as its investment banker in the sale of the business to a strategic buyer.
Headquartered in Denver, Sunflower Bank provides relationship-focused financial solutions in 56 personal banking locations. It currently has approximately $4 billion in assets.
