First Federal Bank of California Names Executive

WEST

First Federal Bank of California in Santa Monica has put a former Home Savings of America executive in charge of its retail banking.

Marti Ortiz was the sales manager for 15 Home Savings branches. She was a vice president at the thrift, whose parent, H.F Ahmanson & Co., was bought by Washington Mutual Inc. on Oct. 1.

She will be an executive vice president at 24-branch First Federal. Her responsibilities will include retail operations, consumer lending, and the retail call center at the Firstfed Financial Corp. unit.

Before joining Home Savings, Ms. Ortiz worked 20 years at First Interstate Bank, rising to vice president and service manager for its Los Angeles region. Wells Fargo & Co. bought First Interstate in 1996.