Executive Team

Jeffrey K. Newgard is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of GBank Financial Holdings Inc. as well as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of GBank. Mr. Newgard has more than 25 years of leadership experience in commercial banking, capital markets, strategic acquisitions and growth-oriented banking organizations. Prior to joining GBank in 2026, Mr. Newgard served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Idaho Holding Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Bank of Idaho. During his tenure, he led the organization from approximately $250 million in assets to $1.3 billion, expanding the franchise across Idaho and Eastern Washington and culminating in the successful sale of the company to Glacier Bancorp in 2025.

Previously, Mr. Newgard served as Executive Vice President and Eastern Region President of HomeStreet Bank following its acquisition of Yakima National Bank, where he was President and Chief Executive Officer. Earlier in his career, he served as Columbia Region President of American West Bank. Mr. Newgard also served on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Head Office Board of Directors as well as the Chairman of the War Bonnet Roundup Board. Mr. Newgard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Walla Walla College, a Master of Business Administration from Washington State University, and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.

Hilary Sledge-Sarnor has 20 years of legal and financial-services experience. Hilary was previously a Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, advising banks, fintech and payments companies, and digital asset firms on complex regulatory, transactional and corporate governance matters. Previously, she spent nearly a decade at MUFG Bank / MUFG Union Bank, N.A. She holds a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University.