Western Alliance Bank has been named Phoenix Business of the Year, the top honor awarded by the Greater Phoenix Chamber's Excellence in Business Awards on June 9, 2026. The recognition highlights the bank's status as Arizona's largest local bank, citing its business growth, national banking capabilities, workplace culture, and investment in the Phoenix community.

The bank won in the midsize-to-large-business category. Headquartered in Phoenix, Western Alliance serves businesses and consumers nationwide through specialized, industry-focused banking groups. It employs more than 3,500 people across 34 states and holds $90 billion in assets.

Kenneth Vecchione, President and CEO of Western Alliance Bank, attributed the recognition to the institution's focus on strong relationships and specialized expertise. He emphasized the bank's commitment to helping clients grow while contributing to Arizona's economy.

Community Impact

Western Alliance detailed several community initiatives that contributed to the award. The bank's impact includes financial literacy support, affordable housing development, and local public safety contributions.

The bank also serves as a major national sponsor of 9/11 Day, the country's largest annual day of charitable service. Western Alliance Bancorporation has ranked as a top U.S. bank by American Banker and Bank Director since 2016.

Western Alliance Bank has promoted Brad Alvarez to Managing Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for its national Business Escrow Services Group and M&A specialty services platform. He will lead the national sales team focused on expanding client relationships and driving continued growth across the platform. The strategic move comes as demand grows for specialized escrow and transaction support, positioning the bank for further international expansion.

Alvarez joined Western Alliance in 2025 and is an attorney with deep expertise in private equity, portfolio company operations, and mergers and acquisitions. Since joining the bank, he has been instrumental in the strategic growth of the Business Escrow Services Group, combining strong client conversion with a proven ability to scale and lead high-performing teams. His insight into transaction execution and complex deal structures has positioned the platform for continued international expansion.

In addition to leading business development, Alvarez will continue to play a central role in advancing the bank's Sponsor Services offering. He will apply his expertise in sponsor expectations and operational pain points to inform the team's product development and delivery. Dale Gibbons, Vice Chairman, Chief Banking Officer, Deposits and Innovation at Western Alliance Bank, noted that Alvarez made an immediate impact with his legal and transactional experience and his ability to connect with clients navigating complex deals.

Heather Kelly, Senior Managing Director and Head of Business Escrow Services, highlighted that Alvarez brings a unique combination of technical expertise and real client credibility in the market. She stated that he understands how complex transactions come together and how to translate them into consistent results for clients, raising the standard in their space.

Before joining Western Alliance, Alvarez was Vice President of Legal for Percheron Capital, a private equity firm specializing in platform investments and roll-up acquisition strategies. Previously, he practiced M&A law at Latham & Watkins, advising strategic acquirers on transactions totaling more than $30 billion. He began his career in the investment banking division at Credit Suisse.

Western Alliance Business Escrow Services

Western Alliance Business Escrow Services is a national specialty banking group within Western Alliance Bank. It serves as a trusted resource for strategic buyers, top-tier law firms, private equity firms, and other stakeholders in mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases, and other business escrow transactions. The group tailors paying agent and escrow services related to these complex transactions at every stage of the deal, from pre-closing to post-closing, with a flexible client-first approach.