First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM), a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank, announced today the promotion of Michael Berry to Senior Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking of First Foundation Bank.

“Mike has been a valuable member of the First Foundation team for over five years, and is the perfect person to lead the team as we look to grow our commercial banking offering,” said Scott F. Kavanaugh, CEO of First Foundation.

In his new role, Berry will lead the Commercial Banking production team as well as manage the Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, Small Business, and Public Finance teams. As First Foundation continues to expand, including its recent entry into Dallas, Texas, the emphasis on commercial banking aligns with its strategic plan to continue to offer products and services its clients have come to expect from a bank with a growing regional footprint.

Berry joined First Foundation Bank in 2015 to initially launch the bank’s commercial banking solution and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking Director. In his roles with First Foundation Bank, he has managed the bank’s commercial and industrial loan portfolio as well as contributed to commercial deposit growth.

Prior to joining First Foundation, Berry was a Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer at First Community Bank and Vice President, Commercial Banking Team Leader at Argent Bank. Mr. Berry has focused his expertise on commercial banking for twenty years and is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School.

About First Foundation

First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM) and its subsidiaries offer personal banking, business banking, and private wealth management services, including investment, trust, insurance, and philanthropy services. This comprehensive platform of financial services is designed to help clients at any stage in their financial journey. First Foundation is comprised of an extraordinary team of financial professionals united around a single cause: to enable growth-minded individuals and businesses to boldly live the life they imagined and preserve the legacy they’ve worked so hard to build. The broad range of financial products and services offered by First Foundation are more consistent with those offered by larger financial institutions, while its high level of personalized service, accessibility, and responsiveness to clients is more aligned with community banks and boutique wealth management firms. This combination of an integrated platform of comprehensive financial services and the products along with personalized service differentiates First Foundation from many of its competitors and has contributed to the growth of its client base and business. Services are offered through bank and/or wealth management branch offices in California, Texas, Nevada, and Hawaii.

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