Stephen Curley Named Eagle Bancorp President and CEO Amid Office-Loan Losses

Stephen Curley will join Eagle Bancorp as president and CEO in July, guiding the Maryland bank through leadership change after significant office-loan losses.

Eagle Bancorp announced a major leadership change as Stephen Curley, formerly chief banking officer at Phoenix-based Western Alliance, will join the Maryland bank as president and CEO in July. The move comes after Eagle’s current CEO announced plans to retire following sizable losses tied to office loans.

Curley brings deep banking experience from Western Alliance, where he served as chief banking officer and helped steer commercial lending operations. His appointment signals Eagle Bancorp’s intent to stabilize leadership and refocus strategy amid pressure from commercial real estate exposures, especially office-loan portfolios that have weighed on the bank’s recent performance.

For Eagle Bancorp, a regional Maryland bank, the transition marks a pivotal moment. The previous CEO’s decision to step down followed public acknowledgment of big losses in office loans — a sector that has faced headwinds with changing workplace demands and rising vacancy rates. Investors and customers will be watching closely to see how the new leadership addresses credit quality, capital planning, and borrower workouts.

Curley’s background at Western Alliance aligns with the priorities Eagle needs: experience managing commercial real estate relationships, leading lending teams, and navigating regulatory expectations during times of stress. While no turnaround is immediate, the company’s board appears to have prioritized an executive with hands-on banking operations experience to restore confidence among shareholders, depositors, and regulators.

What to expect next: Curley will officially assume his role in July, and stakeholder focus will likely shift to his early strategic moves. Key areas include a review of the bank’s office-loan exposure, tightened underwriting standards, enhanced risk management practices, and a clear communication plan to reassure markets. The new leadership may also explore balance-sheet adjustments and targeted business lines to diversify earnings away from vulnerable office assets.

This leadership change underscores broader industry concerns about commercial real estate and the need for experienced bank executives to lead complex restructurings. For Eagle Bancorp, Stephen Curley’s arrival represents both a response to recent losses and an opportunity to chart a new course toward stability and long-term growth in a challenging banking landscape.

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