First Republic has made a senior hire, as well as a senior promotion, in California.

Steve Soja has joined First Republic as a managing director and portfolio manager from Credit Suisse, while the firm has also promoted Mike Selfridge, senior executive VP, to the role of chief banking officer.

Soja, who has 28 years of investment management experience, will be located in First Republic's private banking and wealth management office in downtown San Francisco. Soja spent nine years at Credit Suisse in San Francisco, where he managed a team of eight investment professionals. Earlier in his career, he worked at Bank of America Private Bank, Wells Fargo Private Bank and Lehman Brothers. 

Meanwhile, Selfridge will continue to oversee Northern California private banking as well as information technology, while assuming the additional overview of nationwide business banking. He joined First Republic in early 2012, having previously worked at Silicon Valley Bank for 18 years, where he was head of US regional banking. 

First Republic and its subsidiaries offer private banking, private business banking and private wealth management, including investment, trust and brokerage services. The firm's board of directors recently extended the contract of the firm's chairman and chief executive, Jim Herbert, through December 31, 2017.