First National Bank Alaska’s Board of Directors recently announced three local banking experts will take on new roles at Alaska’s largest locally owned community bank.
With more than ten years of banking experience, Cinda Martin joins the Homer Branch team as Loan Officer and Vice President. “I have lived in Homer for more than 30 years,” Martin says. “Our community is strong, generous, and resilient and I am proud to serve it.” Her volunteer positions include secretary of both the Homer Community Food Pantry and the Homer Marine Trades Association, an officer of the Homer Emblem Club, and chair of the Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary Club and the Homer Project Homeless Connect. In 2019 Martin was named Haven House’s Woman of Distinction and Alaska State Association of Emblem Clubs Member of the Year. Martin has an associate’s degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage Kachemak Bay campus.
Kristina Mendiola was promoted to Central Loan Processing Supervisor and will be based at Corporate Headquarters in Anchorage. Mendiola attended the University of Guam, obtaining a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting. Mendiola moved to Alaska in 2019, where her First National story began as a Loan Processor in Corporate Lending. In her new role, Mendiola’s top priority is to maintain the efficiency of the bank’s loan processing systems. “If I could tell my customers one thing, it’s that we are working hard to meet their needs,” Mendiola says.
First National mortgage loan expert Rachel Stephens was promoted to Senior Mortgage Underwriter. Stephens graduated from Boise Bible College in 2010 before joining the bank as a Teller at the Wasilla Branch the same year. Over the past decade, Stephens has worked in many areas across the bank, gaining experience in bank operations, commercial lending and mortgage processing and underwriting at the Wasilla and Valley Centre Branches. “I love that what I do contributes to the financial well-being of so many Alaskans,” Stephens says. “I’m so grateful to work for First National and to have the opportunity every day to help Alaskans achieve their homeownership goals.”