FIG Partners, one of the nation's premier investment banking and research firms specializing in community banks, announced that FIG investment banking executives John Schramm and Dan Flaherty and Board member Christa Steele are now partners and investors in the firm.

"Christa Steele, John Schramm and Dan Flaherty are committed to FIG's long-term mission of helping community banks become the engines of prosperity in their communities," said FIG CEO Geoff Hodgson. "The broadening of FIG's ownership group recognizes the outstanding performance of both John and Dan and the many valuable contributions Christa will make as the newest member of our Board of Directors."

Schramm, who joined FIG in 2012, has 30 years of financial services and community banking experience. Previously, he was Managing Director with Ranieri Partners and Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, where he co-led the firm's expansion in the Southeast. Before that, Schramm was Managing Director at Triangle Capital Partners LLC, where he co-founded the Financial Institutions Group. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Trident Financial Corporation and was previously a Senior Consultant at Arthur Andersen & Co. Schramm has an MBA in Finance from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Northwestern University.

Flaherty, who joined FIG in 2011, has more than 12 years of investment banking experience. Prior to joining FIG, Flaherty worked in the Investment Banking divisions of Sterne Agee and the Carson Medlin Company, providing corporate finance and investment banking services to community financial institutions. Flaherty has an MBA from the University of Tampa and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 licenses.

Steele was appointed to FIG's Board of Directors in March and has more than 20 years of financial services and community banking experience. She is Founder of Boardroom Consulting LLC, a San Francisco-Bay Area based firm providing advisory services to public and private company management teams and boards of directors. Previously, Steele was President, CEO and director of Mechanics Bank, a $3.4 billion community bank headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, where she led the successful financial turnaround and sale of the company. Steele has a Bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento and is a graduate of the CBA Commercial Lending School and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.