Paul Barenfus in

Paul Barenfus

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Chief Lending Officer at Verity Credit Union
📍 Santa Cruz, California, United States

Paul Barenfus is the Chief Lending Officer at Verity Credit Union, bringing over 25 years of experience in financial services. He is focused on developing inclusive, community-first lending solutions to support historically excluded populations. People often describe him as engaging, articulate, and customer-focused, with a professional and approachable demeanor.

Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and their dog, often going on hiking trips or visiting the beach. He is an avid basketball fan, specifically of the Golden State Warriors, and frequently attends games, festivals, and concerts with his friends and family.

He has progressed in his career from a bank teller to an executive leadership position.

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Experience
10 Years
Current Role
Chief Lending Officer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
Santa Cruz, California, United States
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

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Priorities

Topics Paul cares about

Community-First Banking
He leads Verity's lending division with a focus on dismantling financial barriers and addressing inequities for marginalized communities through innovative, socially responsible loan programs.
Affordable Housing
Publicly supports and helps fund projects like the U-Lex cooperative housing solution in Seattle to create affordable homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate income families.
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Career

Work history

3-2025
Chief Lending Officer
Verity Credit Union
5-2022 - 3-2025
Chief Lending Officer
Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
11-2021 - 5-2022
Commercial Lending
Fremont Bank
7-2016 - 7-2019
RVP, Regional Market Manager
Westamerica Bank
1-2014 - 6-2016
SVP, Commercial Banking Manager
Bank of San Francisco
In the press

Media appearances

Verity Credit Union names industry veteran as new Chief Lending Officer. Featured in CU Insight
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11 Hires, Promotions & Honors Include a New CLO at Verity Credit Union. Featured in Credit Union Times
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Education
2013 - 2015
Masters Level
Pacific Coast Banking School, University of Washington
2003 - 2005
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
San Francisco State University, Lam Family College of Business
Social presence
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Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

Dominance, influence, steadiness, and calculativeness scores with guidance on how this person prefers to communicate and decide.

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