AEA DIRECTOR

With over 45 years of experience in the escrow industry, Leslie Banes is a highly respected Certified Senior Escrow Officer, Certified Escrow Instructor, and holder of the Senior American Settlement Industry Professional and Land Title Professional designations. She currently serves as Senior Escrow Advisor at Stewart Title. In 2021, Leslie was honored as the first recipient of the Leadership Award from the American Escrow Association (AEA), a testament to her commitment and impact on the industry.

A passionate advocate for the profession, Leslie has been deeply involved in industry associations at both the national and state levels. She has served as First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Treasurer of the American Escrow Association and currently contributed to key workgroups including the Closing Instructions Development Workgroup, Remote Online Notary Workgroup, Title Insurance Section Workgroup and Title and Closing workgroup for MISMO (Mortgage Industry Standards Organization). Additionally, she is an active member of the Arizona State Escrow Association (ASEA), where she chaired the Education and Industry Liaison Committees and played a pivotal role in producing the ASEA Escrow II book and the 2016 AEA Annual Conference. Leslie currently chairs the education committee for AEA and the escrow administrators luncheon committee for ASEA

Leslie is a sought-after speaker, regularly presenting to escrow officers, lenders, and realtors. She has also chaired the Industry Partners Conference and planned educational sessions for the ASEA’s annual escrow conferences, as well as the 2014 AEA Annual Conference.

A proud Arizona native, Leslie earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Arizona University. She resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband Phil, and enjoys spending time with their three children and two grandchildren.