Rosa Scharf
Howard Bank, a growth-focused community bank serving businesses, professionals and individuals in the Greater Baltimore area, announced today Rosa Scharf has been named commercial team lead for Howard County.
Scharf, who is senior vice president, will oversee all of commercial lending for Howard County and administer day-to-day business operations. She will report to Frank Turner, executive vice president and regional executive officer, lending. Commercial banker, Lance Johnson and senior commercial portfolio manager, Seth Williams, will be reporting directly to Scharf.
Scharf will also continue to head Howard Bank’s Ellicott City regional office.
“Rosa has delivered us clear, exceptional guidance for more than 14 years,” said Jim Witty, executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer. “Her vast banking experience and sharp development skills made her an obvious choice for this role, but the personal connections she’s established in Howard County gives her, and our customers, an extra advantage. Rosa recognizes their most pressing financial needs – and she’s eager to help.”
Scharf has more than 30 years of experience in financial sales, commercial lending and management experience. Since joining the Howard Bank team in 2004, she has developed and strengthened the bank’s SBA guaranteed loan program. She also spearheaded the Howard Bank Women in Leadership initiative this past year.
“Between Howard Bank’s growth and changes, I’ve been fortunate to work with leadership that prioritizes, and believes in, the long-term financial success of our community,” said Scharf. “This year marks a new chapter for us, and each internal initiative fuels us to perfect our customer service. With our progress, I’m ready to focus efforts in Howard County along with Seth, Lance, and the entire Howard Bank network in my new role.”
For the past two years, Scharf has been a board member of the Meals on Wheels Foundation of Central Maryland, and the Maryland Commercial Lender’s Association. She has also served as a board member for the St. Agnes Hospital Foundation, the Boy Scouts of Central Maryland, and commissioner of the Governor’s Commissioner of Service and Volunteerism.
For her commitment to community service, Scharf has been honored with awards across multiple organizations. In 2007, the Howard County Economic Development Center presented Scharf with the Individual Achievement Award. The following year, she received the United States Small Business Administration Financial Services Champion Award. In 2008 and 2012, she was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record. In 2015, she received the Individual Achievement Award from the Maryland Banker’s Association, and went on to win their Champion for Women Award this year.
About Howard Bancorp, Inc.
Howard Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Howard Bank, a Maryland-chartered trust company operating as a commercial bank. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Howard Bank operates a general commercial banking business with approximately $2.1 billion consolidated assets through its 21 branches located throughout the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Additional information about Howard Bancorp, Inc. and Howard Bank is available on the company’s web site at?www.howardbank.com.
