Stephanie Nicklaus

Stephanie Nicklaus has a diverse work experience in the banking industry. Stephanie is currently the EVP and Chief Credit Officer at 1st Security Bank of Washington since August 2023. Prior to that, they worked at First Fed as a Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Administrator from June 2020 to December 2022, where they were responsible for managing the commercial credit function.

Before joining First Fed, Stephanie was the Chief Credit Officer at Harborstone Credit Union from September 2015 to May 2020, where they oversaw all aspects of credit risk, loan originations, and portfolio management. During their time at Harborstone, they also held the role of DEI Leader, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Stephanie's work history also includes roles at Sound Credit Union as the Vice President/Director of Business Services, Commencement Bank as a VP and Commercial Loan Officer, Umpqua Bank as AVP and Commercial Relationship Manager, and Bank of the Cascades as a Commercial Loan Assistant. Stephanie began their career at Mid-State Bank & Trust as a Senior Loan Representative.

Stephanie Nicklaus completed their education at various institutions. Stephanie obtained a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Women's Studies from Washington State University in 2002. Later, they pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Washington, which they completed in 2021. Stephanie also participated in the Pacific Coast Banking School, though the specific educational details are not provided.

In addition to their formal education, Stephanie acquired several certifications from LinkedIn. In 2022, they obtained the certifications "Equity First: The Path to Inclusion and Belonging" and "Building Inclusive Work Communities." In 2021, they attained certifications in "Communicating about Culturally Sensitive Issues," "Confronting Bias: Thriving Across Our Differences," and "Difficult Conversations: Talking about Race at Work."