ANCHORAGE, AK – First National Bank Alaska’s Board of Directors announced several appointments and promotions, further strengthening Alaska’s largest community bank.
Key appointments and promotions to the bank’s leadership team include:
- Tim Redder, Senior Vice President and Deputy Branch Administration Director II
- Stefan Saldanha, Senior Vice President and Anchorage Branch Administration & Operations Support Director
- Paul Beer, Vice President and Deputy Branch Administration Director
- Shaun Belliston, Vice President and Legal Counsel
- Jane Abshire, Assistant Vice President and Business Initiative Manager
- Sarah Brooks, Wasilla Branch Manager
- Adam Petersen, Escrow Officer and Assistant Escrow Manager
- John Ayotte, Trust Officer and Trust Account Administrator III
- Kira McGaughey, Loan Officer and Commercial Portfolio Banker
- Zachary Scholl, Loan Officer
- Josh Fuentes, Client Relationship Officer
- Lindwood Parker, Client Relationship Officer
“Each of these individuals brings a distinct set of skills and experiences that will significantly enhance our operations. They embody First National’s commitment to providing exceptional service and innovative financial solutions to Alaskans,” said Board Chair and CEO/President Betsy Lawer. “We are excited about deepening our relationships with our customers and continuing growth within the communities we proudly serve.”
Alaska’s community bank since 1922, First National Bank Alaska proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 28 locations in 19 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world.
For more than a century, the bank has been committed to supporting the communities it serves. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive reporting period, over a span of twenty-four years, First National received an Outstanding Community Reinvestment Act performance rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
In 2026, for the second year in a row, Forbes selected First National as one of America’s Best Banks, this year ranking the bank as the second best in the nation. Newsweek recognized the bank as one of the nation’s 2026 Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions for the second year in a row. In 2025, Alaska Business readers voted First National “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the 10th year in a row, Best Bank/Credit Union for the fifth time, and Best Customer Service for the second year in a row. In 2025, American Banker recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” for the eighth year in a row. The bank was also voted “Best of Alaska” in the Anchorage Daily News awards, ranking as one of the top three in the Bank/Financial category for the seventh consecutive year.
First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and is recognized as a Minority Depository Institution by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as it is majority-owned by women.