First Financial Northwest, the bank holding company for First Financial Northwest Bank, appointed Gregg H. DeRitis as senior vice President and chief credit officer effective January 6, 2016.

DeRitis joined FFN in April 2015 as the first vice president of credit administration. Prior to his employment with FFN, he was senior vice president and chief credit officer of Eastside Commercial Bank from March 2013 until March 2015, when Eastside Commercial Bank was acquired by First Sound Bank. From October 2012 until February 2013, he was employed as a risk/lending consultant by Impact Capital. Prior to that, he worked for KeyBank for 22 years in a variety of credit related positions.

“We are pleased to have someone with Gregg’s knowledge and experience to serve as the Bank’s Chief Credit Officer. We also want to thank Rob Robinson for his dedication and outstanding service as Chief Credit Officer of the Bank since 2010. Rob played a key role in the dramatic improvement in the Bank’s asset and credit quality and he will truly be missed. We also want to wish him well in his retirement,” stated Joseph W. Kiley III, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank.

DeRitis’ appointment is in connection with Herman L. Robinson’s planned retirement as senior vice president and chief credit officer on January 5, 2016. Following his retirement, Robinson will continue to be employed by the Bank as credit administrator until March 31, 2016 when he will resign as credit administrator and retire from his employment with the bank. Robinson has served as the Bank’s SVP and CCO since June 2010.

First Financial Northwest is the parent company of First Financial Northwest Bank, a Washington-chartered stock savings bank headquartered in Renton, WA.