Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. William C. (BJ) Losch III, who has been serving as both President of Live Oak Bank and CFO, will add the additional role of President of Live Oak Bancshares effective November 14, 2023 and will step down as CFO at the end of this year. To fill that role, the board announced Walter J. Phifer as CFO of Live Oak Bancshares and Live Oak Bank effective January 1, 2024. Phifer has served as Treasurer since 2019 and has also held the role of Head of Finance, Planning and Analysis since 2022.

He brings deep experience to the leadership team as the company continues to deliver innovative banking products, services, and solutions to its customers. Phifer joined the bank in 2015 and brings 18 years of experience in the financial industry, including various finance, treasury, accounting, audit, and deposit analytic roles. Prior to joining Live Oak, Phifer served as the Deposits Finance Manager at Barclays US where he managed the finances and data analytics of a $10 billion deposit portfolio.

He began his career in external audit at Deloitte, based out of the Boston and Philadelphia offices, and earned his Certified Public Accountant certification in 2006. Phifer received a bachelor's degree in economics and accounting from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.