Business & Finance
Business and Finance
Business and Finance
Fri, October 15, 2010
Thu, October 14, 2010 
PORTLAND, Ore.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Umpqua Bank ], a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), has launched a new debt capital markets group to provide additional products and services to serve its business clientele. To lead this new venture, Umpqua has recruited Senior Vice President Laura Watts whose duties will include overseeing bank syndications and interest rate hedge strategies. She will report directly to Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking, Cort Oa™Haver.
"We are forming a capital markets group to grow with our clients"
aWe are forming a capital markets group to grow with our clients,a said Oa™Haver. aThrough this group, we will have the network and resources in place to help them with their loan needs as they grow and expand their business. This is a strategic area of service for Umpqua Bank and we couldna™t be more pleased to have someone with Lauraa™s background and knowledge to lead it.a
Watts has more than 15 years of banking experience with an emphasis on commercial banking syndications and participations including originations, structuring, and distributions. Previously, she worked at Capital One as the senior director of bank syndications. Watts will be based in Seattle and travel throughout Umpqua Banka™s footprint to lead education and marketing efforts for the capital markets group.
Watts has a graduate degree from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree from University of California, Santa Barbara.
About Umpqua Bank
[ Umpqua Bank ], headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ) and has 184 locations between San Francisco and Seattle, along the Oregon and Northern California Coast, and in Central Oregon and Northern Nevada.Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including TheWall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for the past four years in a row on FORTUNE magazinea™slist of the countrya™s a100 Best Companies To Work For.a Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua Investments Inc., which offers services through Umpqua Bank stores and in dedicated offices throughout Oregon.Umpqua's Private BankDivision serves high net worth individualsand non-profitsproviding customized financial solutions and offerings.Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Portland, Ore.For more information, visit [ http://www.umpquabank.com ].
**Photo available on request**
