Chris Grassa is National Head of Commercial Banking for Western Alliance Bank. With more than 25 years of banking experience, Chris leads teams that support business clients across the bank’s multi-state footprint. He also has responsibility for Small Business Administration (SBA) lending, along with other consumer and small business lending, for Western Alliance Bank.
A founding officer of our legacy brand, Torrey Pines Bank, Mr Grassa has been a regional banking leader since 2016. He continues to oversee teams that serve business clients throughout Southern California. Known as a strategic leader and advocate for the bank’s business and professional growth, he has served on numerous training and mentorship programs across Western Alliance Bank.
Mr. Grassa is a member of the Management Council and Board of Directors of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of LEAD Influence San Diego, he has served as a mentor and resource for LEAD San Diego’s Advance, a leadership development program to further the careers of top-performing women. He is a current Board Member of Neighborhood House Association and is also a former board and finance committee member of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, East County YMCA and The Boys and Girls Club of East County.
Born and raised in San Diego, Mr. Grassa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Economics, from San Diego State University.
Western Alliance Bank
With more than $85 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation is one of the country’s top-performing bank holding companies. Its primary subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, offers a full spectrum of tailored commercial banking solutions and consumer products, all delivered with outstanding service by industry experts who put customers first. Major accolades include being ranked as a top U.S. bank in 2024 by American Banker and Bank Director and receiving #1 rankings on Extel’s (formerly Institutional Investor’s) All-America Executive Team Midcap Banks 2024 for Best CEO, Best CFO and Best Company Board of Directors. Serving clients nationwide, Western Alliance Bank includes six legacy bank brands — Alliance Association Bank, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank and Torrey Pines Bank — that continue to be part of the company’s heritage.