On Sept. 8, 2025, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire FirstBank Holding Company, including its banking subsidiary FirstBank, headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. PNC announced that Adam Sands, currently chief banking officer at FirstBank, will become Chief Market Executive for PNC’s Colorado and Arizona markets following the conversion.
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In his current role, Sands oversees more than a dozen markets across Colorado and Arizona, leading all of FirstBank’s Market Presidents and their teams in managing and growing the company’s customer relationships.
As chief market executive for Colorado and Arizona, Sands will continue to oversee these states’ Market Presidents – to be known as Market Executives – along with their teams of bank officers who will remain focused on business development, relationship management and community engagement. Sands will report to Jeff Warner, PNC’s head of Small Business.
“We are thrilled at the prospect of welcoming someone of Adam’s caliber and banking expertise to this key leadership role at PNC,” said Warner. “I look forward to building upon the strong relationships he and his team have developed at FirstBank – particularly in the commercial real estate space – to deliver even more capabilities for their clients and communities.”
Sands will work closely with Kevin Classen, CEO of FirstBank, who – as previously announced – will become PNC’s Colorado regional president and territory leader for the Mountain States, including Arizona and Utah, following the conversion.
“I’m excited to partner with Adam in our next chapter at PNC,” said Classen. “His leadership and deep market knowledge will be instrumental as we build on FirstBank’s strong foundation and continue to serve our communities and customers with excellence.”
“I am honored to accept the future role of chief market executive for PNC’s Colorado and Arizona markets,” said Sands. “As Kevin and I continue to work side by side, our focus remains on carrying forward FirstBank and PNC’s shared values, including helping businesses of every size grow, expanding commercial real estate lending, and strengthening the communities where we live and work. We’re also eager to deliver the same thoughtful financing structures, local expertise, and customer-first decision-making that borrowers have appreciated from FirstBank and that PNC proudly supports. With their larger balance sheet and broader set of products and services, we’re confident we’ll be able to create even more opportunities for customers across the region.”
These appointments underscore PNC’s commitment to a community-based leadership model and continuity.
