Virtual Directors Forum

Steve Andrews is the president & CEO of the Western Bankers Association and manages the affairs and day to day operational aspects of the association and all its divisions. In his role as CEO he is one of the foremost advocates of the banking industry and the important role banks play in our communities and economy. 

Aaron J. Axton joined KBW in 2000 and is a Managing Director in the Depositories Investment Banking Department, serving banks in North America and Europe. Aaron has been providing strategic advice to West Coast banks, thrifts and financial institutions for over 20 years.

Steve counsels financial institutions about federal and state banking matters and related securities law and financing issues. He utilizes his background and experience as a bank regulator with the Comptroller of the Currency and as an accountant on Wall Street in advising our diverse group of banking clients throughout the Western United States.

Mr. Aldrich is a principal of the law firm of Aldrich & Bonnefin, PLC, specializing in financial institution regulatory issues, commercial lending and corporate and securities matters. Mr. Aldrich actively advises California financial institutions, including both commercial banks and credit unions, their boards of directors and audit committees. 

Ryan is a Principal in the firm and serves as Director of Wolf’s Information Technology (IT) Assurance Services Group. He provides guidance to clients surrounding IT controls, information security and privacy, cybersecurity, and the implementation of effective risk management programs related to these areas. He also oversees Wolf’s IT audit and consulting services to ensure quality delivery of these services, and to keep practices up-to-date with the rapidly evolving world of information security.

Scott Schweser joined the FDIC’s Division of Insurance and Research in January 2012, where he analyzes economic trends in the San Francisco Regional Office. Prior to his current position, Scott worked in both the banking and real estate sectors, spending approximately five years at Bank of America in Boston, where he was a Vice President and asset manager focused on bank tax credit equity investments. Additionally, he worked as a senior asset manager at TCAM, a real estate advisory firm based in Boston.  Scott earned an MA in Economics from Yale University.