FIG Partners, an investment banking and research firm specializing in community banks, named executives John Schramm and Dan Flaherty and board member Christa Steele as partners and investors in the firm.

“Christa Steele, John Schramm and Dan Flaherty are committed to FIG’s long-term mission of helping community banks become the engines of prosperity in their communities,” said FIG CEO Geoff Hodgson. “The broadening of FIG’s ownership group recognizes the outstanding performance of both John and Dan and the many valuable contributions Christa will make as the newest member of our board of directors.”

Schramm, who joined FIG in 2012, has 30 years of financial services and community banking experience. Previously, he was managing director with Ranieri Partners and Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, where he co-led the firm’s expansion in the Southeast. Before that, Schramm was managing director at Triangle Capital Partners, where he co-founded the Financial Institutions Group. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Trident Financial and was previously a senior consultant at Arthur Andersen & Co.

Flaherty, who joined FIG in 2011, has more than 12 years of investment banking experience. Prior to joining FIG, Flaherty worked in the Investment Banking divisions of Sterne Agee and the Carson Medlin Company, providing corporate finance and investment banking services to community financial institutions.

Steele was appointed to FIG’s board of directors in March and has more than 20 years of financial services and community banking experience. She is the 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. Previously, Steele was president, CEO and director of Mechanics Bank, a $3.4 billion community bank headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA, where she led the successful financial turnaround and sale of the company.

FIG’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. FIG’s trading and sales team serves as market maker for more than 800 bank stocks and has relationships with 400 institutional investors. FIG’s fixed-income unit offers a full range of trading, advisory and valuation services.