Ernest Garfield is the Chairman, founder, and principal partner of Interstate Bank Developers, Inc.  Ernie is also founder and chair of the Alliance of Business Banks, the Arizona Financial Institutions Task Force, and the U.S. Criminal Records Agency. The Phoenix Business Journal selected Ernie as one the most influential business leaders of 2007.

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His civic involvement has included serving on the governor’s commissions for Prevention of Family Violence, Violence against Women, Rape Prevention, Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force, and as a director on the board of the Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. He serves as a founding member of the Men’s Anti-violence Network and as a member of The Arizona Skill Standards Commission. While in the Army, Garfield served in Korea. He was one of 1,070 artillery officers inducted into the U.S. Army Field Artillery Hall of Fame at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  http://www.artilleryocsalumni.com/hof.html

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As an Arizona State Senator he was a member of the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Commerce and Industry committees and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. As State Treasurer of Arizona he helped reform the state’s investment laws. His efforts made it possible for him to earn more interest income for the state during his tenure than had been earned by all previous state treasurers combined.

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As Arizona Corporation Commissioner during the Middle East oil crisis, he twice chaired the White House Conference on Energy. Since leaving public office in 1979, Mr. Garfield has been involved in bank organizations, real estate development, and publishing. He has helped start 31 banks.