FIG Partners, an investment banking and research firm specializing in community banks, named community banking and fintech executive Christa Steele to its board of directors.

Steele has more than 20 years of financial services and community banking experience. Her most recent operating role was as president, CEO and director of $3.4 billion Mechanics Bank, where she led the successful financial turnaround and sale of the company. She is currently founder of Boardroom Consulting, a San Francisco-Bay area based firm providing advisory services to public and private company management teams and boards of directors. A well-known industry commentator and speaker, Steele has worked on banking legislation in Congress and with regulators. She is a two-time recipient of the San Francisco Business Times‘ Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business award.

“Christa Steele is a thought leader in community banking and fintech, and her experience will benefit FIG as it continues to execute its growth strategy,” said Timothy Chrisman, chairman of FIG’s board of directors.

In addition to Mechanics Bank, Steele has worked as a commercial market manager, sales manager, in special assets, as commercial and retail lender and in other retail positions at Farmers & Merchants Bank, Westamerica and Bank of America. At Farmers & Merchants, where she worked for 12 years, she served as executive vice president and wholesale banking manager.

Founded in 2003, FIG’s award-winning research team follows more than 120 bank stocks in the U.S. The firm’s investment banking unit has raised more than $2.8 billion in equity and advised on more than $3.3 billion in M&A since 2007.