Columbia Bank Hires Salt Lake City Commercial Real Estate Team as Part of Utah Expansion
TACOMA, Wash., June 18, 2026 — Columbia Bank announced the expansion of its Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Division into Utah with the appointments of regional industry leaders Steve Strong and David Griffin to build the bank’s Salt Lake City-based CRE team.
Strong joins as Senior Vice President overseeing commercial construction and term debt financing in the market. Griffin will lead the region’s home builder finance team as Senior Relationship Manager.
“Steve and David bring to Columbia Bank decades of combined experience and exceptional depth of knowledge in real estate finance, construction lending and structured debt solutions,” said Neil Hodge, Executive Vice President of Commercial Real Estate. “Their strategic additions reflect our commitment to building a best-in-class CRE platform in the region and delivering from day one sophisticated financial solutions tailored to the evolving needs of builders, developers and investors.”
Strong brings more than two decades of experience structuring complex financing solutions, with expertise that spans construction lending, stabilized asset financing and long-term capital strategies. He joins Columbia from WaFd Bank, where he managed a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate projects as Senior Relationship Manager and Senior Vice President. Previously, he held regional leadership roles at Hillcrest Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo.
Griffin has served as a trusted advisor to builders navigating dynamic market conditions for more than 25 years, providing innovative capital solutions that support growth across residential development platforms. He joins Columbia from Mechanics Bank, where he oversaw the Idaho market as Vice President, Relationship Manager and managed the bank’s underwriting staff as Vice President, Construction Underwriter Manager. Previously, he held roles at Home Federal Bank, First Horizon Bank and Far West Bank.
The moves are part of Columbia’s strategic expansion in Utah and continued growth across the West. The bank first entered the Utah market with a commercial lending team in 2022 and opened its first retail location in the greater Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area with the South Jordan branch in 2023. Columbia Bank is preparing to open additional branches later this year.
“Columbia Bank is committed to becoming the bank of choice for Utah businesses, and we continue to attract top talent with strong ties to local communities in Salt Lake City and across the state,” said Jeff Thomas, Utah Market Director. “Our recent expansion here and quality hires reinforce our strategy to be deeply rooted in communities with strong economic fundamentals, while contributing to their long-term success.”
About Columbia Bank
Columbia Bank is an award-winning preeminent regional bank with offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. It combines the resources, sophistication, and expertise of a national bank with a commitment to deliver superior, personalized service. The bank supports consumers and businesses through a full suite of services, including retail and commercial banking, Small Business Administration lending, institutional and corporate banking, and equipment leasing. Columbia Bank customers also have access to comprehensive investment and wealth management expertise as well as healthcare and private banking through Columbia Wealth Management.
