Seacoast Commerce Bank hired Don Mercer as executive vice president and Small Business Administration (SBA) national sales manager. His business development officers will be focused on helping business owners facilitate the acquisition, development and refinance of commercial real estate properties.

“Don is an outstanding addition to our SBA Team and his newly created role is a vital component to our planned growth. His main focus over the short-term is to expand our sales force by 50%, adding 10-plus highly productive SBA BDO’s to our existing team,” saidd David H. Bartram, senior executive vice president, COO and SBA division manager.

“I am excited for this opportunity and have been very impressed with Seacoast’s business model” Mercer said. “They have a huge market advantage with the fastest and most consistent turn times in our industry [and] a common sense approach to credit.”

A 28-year industry veteran, Mercer previously served for 10 years as SBA national sales manager for Bank of the West.

San Diego-based Seacoast Commerce Bank has full-service banking branches throughout California, and loan production offices throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Washington.