Associated Bank announced the appointment of Steven Zandpour as the company's executive vice president, director of retail banking. In his new role, Zandpour will focus on consumer and small business growth across the company's major metropolitan markets. He will also lead Associated Bank's branch network, contact centers and other sales and service channels.

Following the successful launch of several deposit gathering initiatives including a mass affluent strategy over the past 24 months, Associated Bank continues to focus on growing and deepening core customer deposit relationships and is leveraging customer feedback to deliver targeted product and service enhancements. Additional details regarding planned investments in people, products and technology are laid out in the next phase of the company's people-led, digitally enabled strategic plan. Zandpour joins the company from BMO in Chicago where he most recently served as U.S. Head of Specialty Sales and successfully drove sales, service and financial results for mortgage, business banking and mass affluent segments across BMO's U.S. footprint.

Prior to joining BMO, he spent 14 years in leadership at Fifth Third Bank in Illinois. He is currently completing his MBA at the University of Notre Dame and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Iowa. In the community, Zandpour has dedicated his time and talent to City Year Chicago, Valley of the Sun United Way Cabinet and the Arizona Science Center.

Zandpour will be located in Milwaukee.