Boise, ID – Echo Payton-Brown is proudly recognized as an Inner Circle Lifetime Member for her enduring contributions to safety and soundness in banking and business, as well as her deep commitment to education through mentoring rising professionals, advancing financial-literacy initiatives, and supporting veteran transitions. A former leader in the US Army, she credits her military service with instilling the disciplined approach to risk and asset management that has continued to define her career two decades later.
Echo Payton-Brown, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management, whose work continues to strengthen the organization’s risk framework, operational resilience, and mission-driven culture across the bank’s regional footprint.
With a distinguished background spanning finance, technology risk, organizational risk taxonomy, and strategic risk oversight, Ms. Payton-Brown plays a key role in guiding WaFd Bank’s enterprise wide approach to identifying, managing, and mitigating risk. Her team supports frontline operations and executive leadership with critical KPIs, strategic insights, and governance structures that help safeguard the bank’s long term success.
Echo brings more than twenty years of specialized experience in building and refining risk taxonomy and organizational structure, with a career foundation rooted in discipline and service. Before joining WaFd Bank, she spent ten years in Financial Risk Consulting at KPMG LLP. Early in her career, Echo served in the U.S. Army, an experience that continues to inform her leadership style and commitment to excellence.
She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Idaho (2006) and maintains professional affiliations with the American Bankers Association (ABA), Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), and the Project Management Institute (PMI), where she was credentialed as a PMP in 2012, expiring in 2022.
A sought-after speaker in the risk community, Echo has presented at national conferences, including the 2023 Boston GRC Conference, covering topics such as third-party risk, broad-based governance, and credit risk as an overarching strategic risk.
Beyond her professional achievements, Echo is known for her creativity and commitment to personal growth. A musician and artist, she credits much of her personal and professional journey to mentors who shaped her path. She dedicates her ongoing work in Finance, Risk, and Artificial Intelligence to Jennifer Serrato, a lifelong mentor and friend.
Looking ahead, Echo aims to expand her impact through AI integration for mid-tier businesses, credit unions and educational curricula at charter schools, demonstrating her forward-thinking philosophy centered around the belief that “Everything conspires to live; so I build the controls that let it thrive.”
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