Horizon Community Bank appointed Jim Nelson as senior commercial lending manager in Mesa, AZ.

With more than 33 years in the banking industry, Nelson will be responsible for managing commercial lending at the Mesa branch, along with growing its loan portfolio, managing customer relationships and promoting business banking products throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Most recently chief credit officer at Goldwater Bank, Nelson has expertise in growing deposits, implementing policies and infrastructures, handling due-diligence and compliance, and making key credit decisions.

“I’m particularly excited that Horizon Community Bank is locally owned and operated. By helping it grow deposits and borrowers, I’m helping the very community that I live in because the dollars remain in our neighborhood. I’m a huge believer in local first,” said Nelson. “It’s also a bank with a robust line of products ranging from construction and SBA loans through permanent loans, working capital loans, business lines-of-credit and more. My background completely fits their business banking focus and I’m very pleased to join the team.”

Nelson will report to Scott Dickman, newly appointed market president of Greater Maricopa County.

Nelson’s past positions also include posts at Pinnacle Bank, Compass Bank, Wells Fargo, Chase Bank of Arizona, First Federal Bank and Community Bank of Arizona.