About

Carmella Sage Murphy, Principal Consultant

Imagine being in the room when a federal examiner slides a piece of paper across the desk to your CEO with the words “Cease and Desist” on them. Carmella was, she held a top leadership role at Salal Credit Union. That was in 2014, thanks to Carmella, Salal remains a leading financial institution profitably, safely and soundly banking the state licensed and regulated cannabis industry today.   

After 20+ years in banking, spearheading Salal Credit Union’s business banking division and speaking at numerous conferences across the nation, it was time for a new challenge. Carmella continues her passion of working with businesses to help them execute their plans and achieve their dreams. She founded High Risk Business Solutions LLC in 2020 to assist credit unions to provide financial solutions to underserved industries.

Carmella has a unique perspective of the needs of both financial institutions and small to medium-sized businesses. She worked for regulatory agencies then community banks and credit unions. Carmella has a strong work ethic. She completed her Bachelor’s degree as a young mother of three sons, under the age of six, while working as a research assistant and moving around the country for her husband’s Air Force career. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, she began her career as a bank examiner in Chicago. After moving back to the Pacific Northwest, where she was born and raised, she worked at the Federal Home Loan Bank and attended night school, earning a Master’s in Public Administration from Seattle University. Carmella is determined, resourceful, innovative, knowledgeable and caring.

What drives Carmella is helping to create a triple bottom line by increasing access to credit to under banked businesses, creating a positive impact in communities and improving the financial soundness of credit unions so they can maximize their future success.