First Foundation appoints Stuart Bernstein as chief banking officer

IRVINE, Calif. - First Foundation Inc. (NYSE:FFWM), a banking institution with a market capitalization of approximately $403 million, announced Monday the appointment of Stuart Bernstein as Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer of First Foundation Bank, effective August 11, 2025.

In his new role, Bernstein will oversee the bank’s consumer services, business banking, and private client strategy, according to a company press release.

Bernstein brings over 25 years of leadership experience in consumer banking, wealth management, and lending. Most recently, he served as Head of Branch and Private Client at Santander Bank, where he managed a network of 500 branches across eight states, overseeing more than $40 billion in deposits and $15 billion in client assets.

"There’s no easing in. I’m joining a team that’s navigating change with purpose, and I’m here to accelerate that momentum from day one," Bernstein said. According to InvestingPro analysis, which offers 12+ additional insights about First Foundation, the company’s transformation efforts are timely as it aims to improve its financial health score, currently rated as weak by InvestingPro’s comprehensive evaluation system.

Prior to Santander, Bernstein spent over a decade at MUFG Union Bank in various executive roles including Head of Private Banking and Investment Sales, Head of Residential Lending, and Head of Branch and Private Banking. His career began at Wells Fargo and Bank of America in leadership positions.

Thomas C. Shafer, CEO of First Foundation Inc., cited Bernstein’s "extensive experience leading multi-billion-dollar banking operations" and "consistent focus on talent development and client engagement" as key qualifications for driving the bank’s next phase of development.

Bernstein holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.

First Foundation Inc. provides personal banking, business banking, and private wealth management services through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank. For detailed analysis and future growth prospects, investors can access First Foundation’s complete financial health assessment through the InvestingPro Research Report, part of the platform’s coverage of over 1,400 US equities.

In other recent news, First Foundation Inc. reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2025, which did not meet analyst expectations. The bank disclosed an adjusted core after-tax net income of $1 million, equating to $0.01 per share, whereas analysts had projected an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.02. Additionally, the company’s revenue fell short of forecasts, contributing to the disappointing earnings results. These developments have garnered attention from investors and analysts alike, as they assess the financial health of First Foundation Inc. The announcement underscores challenges the company faces in meeting market expectations. As these are recent developments, stakeholders are closely monitoring any further updates from the company. Analyst opinions may vary, but the current figures provide a factual basis for understanding the company’s recent performance.

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