DURANGO — First Southwest Bank (FSWB), a locally owned, independent community bank, and one of two Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) banks in Colorado, recently named Kristy Esquibel as Chief Credit Officer, Executive Vice President.

An experienced banking professional, Esquibel will be responsible for managing FSWB’s credit quality and policy, overseeing consumer and commercial underwriting, loan operations, and special assets. She will report directly to Kent Curtis, president and CEO, and will be part of the bank’s executive leadership team. She is based out of FSWB’s Alamosa branch.

“I’m thrilled to have Kristy in this role,” said Curtis, “her expertise within the bank and understanding of our mission as a CDFI will allow her to lead with a focus on providing responsible lending solutions to customers, including underserved rural communities while maintaining an acceptable level of risk.”

Esquibel has worked at FSWB since 2013, serving in various roles including Credit Analyst, AVP/Credit Analyst Manager, VP/Credit Administration Manager, SVP/Credit Administration Manager, and most recently as SVP/Lending Manager, where she was responsible for the overall management and performance, compliance, growth and strategic direction of the Lending Department.

“I'm beyond excited to support First Southwest Bank in my new role as Chief Credit Officer. Having worked for First Southwest Bank for 10 years, I have seen firsthand our impact in rural communities. Working for a mission-based CDFI bank allows me to support small businesses and contribute towards economic growth in rural communities which is my passion. I’m proud to work alongside an amazing team that has made a lasting impact on the communities we serve. My goal as CCO is to create a culture that is mission-focused with a strong expertise in creative financing and risk mitigation. I’m looking forward to the future we are creating and the impact I know we will have on our communities,” said Esquibel.

Esquibel received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, her master’s from Colorado State University, Pueblo, and her banking certification from the Western States School of Banking.

She is president of the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce, serves on the local board for economic development, and enjoys using her experience and education to teach financial literacy courses to youth and small business owners.