Christopher A. Smith, 53, is our Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Smith has over 25 years of commercial lending and capital markets experience and has been involved in over $3 billion in commercial transactions. Prior to CSI, Mr. Smith has served as the EVP, Colorado President for Hillcrest Bank where he led the bank’s geographic expansion into Colorado. Prior to joining Hillcrest Bank, Mr. Smith was a Senior Vice President and the leading producer for BBVA Compass Bank’s commercial real estate group in Denver. Previously, he was Vice President at First Security Capital Markets in charge of the Structured Finance Group where he managed syndications and securitization transactions. Prior to that, Mr. Smith worked for Bank One Capital Corporation, where he underwrote warehouse financing, mezzanine debt and securitization facilities. Prior to joining BOCC, Mr. Smith worked for National Century Financial Enterprises, a specialty finance company that led the nation in factoring healthcare receivables. He began his career with Bank One, Cleveland in the bank’s commercial lending group.
Mr. Smith received his Master of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University and Bachelor of Science Business Administration degree in Accounting from Bowling Green State University.