Susan Riel, Eagle Bancorp president and CEO, will retire in 2026. She will be stepping down as board of directors chairwoman but will remain on the board.
“It has been a privilege to lead Eagle over the last seven years, and to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team,” Riel said. “Together, we have built one of the region’s premier community banks, known for our superior, personalized service to our customers and our unwavering commitment to our communities. I am confident that Eagle is well positioned for continued success, and I look forward to leading Eagle until my successor is identified and in place.”
The board has hired an executive search firm to help find a successor and has elected James Soltesz, the board’s former lead independent director, as independent chair of the board, to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Louis Mathews Jr. was elected as vice chairman. Both roles are effective immediately.
Soltesz became an Eagle Bancorp board member in 2007 and was appointed lead independent director in 2021. Mathews became an Eagle Bancorp board member in 2024.
Eagle Bancorp is the holding company for Maryland-based EagleBank that operates 12 banking offices and four lending offices in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.