Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Home > Top Stories > Sunwest Bank Set to Deploy $45M in SBA Loans this Year

Sunwest Bank Set to Deploy $45M in SBA Loans this Year

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on June 15, 2018

5 min read

Last updated: January 21, 2026

Israeli forces order evacuation in Beit Hanoun amid Gaza conflict - Global Banking & Finance Review — This image illustrates the evacuation order issued by Israeli forces in Beit Hanoun, highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The article discusses the ongoing conflict and its impact on residents, emphasizing the financial and humanitarian implications of the situation.

Thomas Chavez to Lead the Bank’s New SBA Lending Team

Sunwest Bank, a privately held commercial bank serving entrepreneurs, corporations, family offices and real estate developers throughout the Western United States, is announcing plans to deploy more than $45 million in new SBA loans in 2018. Thomas “TJ” Chavez recently joined Sunwest as a senior vice president and will be responsible for leading the bank’s new SBA team and achieving its ambitious lending goals.

“I’m excited to be part of an organization that is well-capitalized and very flexible. The bank is led by a very entrepreneurial management team, which understands what it takes to run a successful and fast-growing business. Their mindset, energy, and ability to move quickly on lending decisions will be our biggest differentiator in the SBA lending space,” says Thomas.

The bank’s new SBA group will concentrate its efforts on deploying capital to businesses that are 2-7 years old and are achieving $1M – $30M per year in revenue. The team is not industry focused but does have expertise lending to manufacturing, distribution, trucking and logistics, 3PLs, defense contractors, technology, and publishing companies.

The new group of six seasoned bankers includes Terry Berg, Marilyne Patton, Jamie Bryan, Natividado Maneja, Andrew Ayrouth, Lindsay Phelan and Thomas “TJ” Chavez. Some members of the team moved to Sunwest from top 20 SBA lenders in Southern California and top 100 SBA lenders in the country. Chavez, who was most recently with Union Bank, plans to help his new group make their mark on both of those lists. The team’s charter to deploy $45M in new loans in 2018 will mean prompt credit decisions and capital deployment to entrepreneurs in the Western United States.

“The number one complaint I hear from businesses who deal with SBA loan shops is the slow process. We are a high-touch group that can make a yes or no credit decision within 3-5 business days and get capital deployed within 30-60 days. That means a lot to entrepreneurs who place a high value on their time and money, and frankly, it’s a huge competitive advantage for our group,” adds Chavez.

Sunwest Bank, founded in 1969, is a privately held commercial bank with over $1.1 Billion in assets and headquartered in Irvine, CA, with operations in California, Arizona, Idaho and Utah. We are an entrepreneurial business bank with a long tradition of providing excellent service to entrepreneurs, privately held corporations, family offices, small-medium size business and real estate developers throughout the Western United States. Sunwest Bank is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. More information about Sunwest Bank and its full line of products and services is available at SunwestBank.com.

Thomas Chavez to Lead the Bank’s New SBA Lending Team

Sunwest Bank, a privately held commercial bank serving entrepreneurs, corporations, family offices and real estate developers throughout the Western United States, is announcing plans to deploy more than $45 million in new SBA loans in 2018. Thomas “TJ” Chavez recently joined Sunwest as a senior vice president and will be responsible for leading the bank’s new SBA team and achieving its ambitious lending goals.

“I’m excited to be part of an organization that is well-capitalized and very flexible. The bank is led by a very entrepreneurial management team, which understands what it takes to run a successful and fast-growing business. Their mindset, energy, and ability to move quickly on lending decisions will be our biggest differentiator in the SBA lending space,” says Thomas.

The bank’s new SBA group will concentrate its efforts on deploying capital to businesses that are 2-7 years old and are achieving $1M – $30M per year in revenue. The team is not industry focused but does have expertise lending to manufacturing, distribution, trucking and logistics, 3PLs, defense contractors, technology, and publishing companies.

The new group of six seasoned bankers includes Terry Berg, Marilyne Patton, Jamie Bryan, Natividado Maneja, Andrew Ayrouth, Lindsay Phelan and Thomas “TJ” Chavez. Some members of the team moved to Sunwest from top 20 SBA lenders in Southern California and top 100 SBA lenders in the country. Chavez, who was most recently with Union Bank, plans to help his new group make their mark on both of those lists. The team’s charter to deploy $45M in new loans in 2018 will mean prompt credit decisions and capital deployment to entrepreneurs in the Western United States.

“The number one complaint I hear from businesses who deal with SBA loan shops is the slow process. We are a high-touch group that can make a yes or no credit decision within 3-5 business days and get capital deployed within 30-60 days. That means a lot to entrepreneurs who place a high value on their time and money, and frankly, it’s a huge competitive advantage for our group,” adds Chavez.

Sunwest Bank, founded in 1969, is a privately held commercial bank with over $1.1 Billion in assets and headquartered in Irvine, CA, with operations in California, Arizona, Idaho and Utah. We are an entrepreneurial business bank with a long tradition of providing excellent service to entrepreneurs, privately held corporations, family offices, small-medium size business and real estate developers throughout the Western United States. Sunwest Bank is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. More information about Sunwest Bank and its full line of products and services is available at SunwestBank.com.