Opus Bank announced Sharmila Solanki has joined Opus as Managing Director, Healthcare Banking. Solanki, a 26-year banking veteran, is responsible for providing senior debt financing and banking solutions to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health companies, hospice providers, home health agencies, outpatient care centers, medical technology, laboratories, pharmaceutical, healthcare-related manufacturing, and service providers to those in the healthcare industry. Opus’ Healthcare Banking team provides superior ideas and solutions, and banking products including cash flow loans for acquisitions and recapitalizations, asset based loans, real estate financing, working capital lines of credit, bridge loans, and syndication of multi-lender facilities.
Stephen H. Gordon, Founding Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Opus Bank, stated, “Opus’ Healthcare Banking clients will directly benefit from Sharmila’s over 25 years of expertise and industry specific knowledge in structuring and delivering tailored financial solutions, as well as from her diverse background in all aspects of healthcare banking including underwriting, portfolio management, and loan origination.” Gordon added, “This expansion continues the evolution and maturation of Opus to become the premier financial institution for healthcare banking clients seeking tailored, relationship-based products, services, and solutions as they expand and grow.”
Donika Schnell, Head of Opus Bank’s Healthcare Banking division stated, “We are pleased to welcome Sharmila to the Healthcare Banking team. She is a seasoned banking professional who brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique understanding of the healthcare sector.” Schnell concluded, “We anticipate that her contributions will be immediately impactful as we further expand Opus’ Healthcare Banking presence nationally, leveraging Sharmila’s decades of experience serving healthcare clients across the country.”
Solanki joins Opus Bank most recently from Prosperity Bank, through its acquisition of F&M Bank & Trust Co. in 2014, where she served as Managing Director, Manager - Healthcare Lending Division. Solanki started and led F&M Bank’s Healthcare Lending Division, which focused on delivering senior debt for working capital, acquisitions, growth capital, and recapitalizations to private equity owned healthcare service providers throughout the United States. Additionally, she was responsible for all aspects of the group’s performance including deal generation, underwriting, and portfolio management.
From 2002 to 2010, Solanki served as Managing Director at CIT Healthcare through its acquisition of Healthcare Business Credit Corporation in 2005. During her tenure at CIT/ HBCC, she was responsible for delivering lending solutions and advisory services to healthcare companies including providing cash flow loans, asset-based lending, real estate finance, and working capital lines of credit. From 1999 to 2002, Solanki served as Vice President, within GE Capital’s Business Capital division.
Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with $7.5 billion of total assets, $6.1 billion of total loans, and $6.2 billion in total deposits as of June 30, 2016. Opus Bank provides high-value, relationship-based banking products, services, and solutions to its clients through its Retail Bank, Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank, and Correspondent Bank.