Live Oak Bank Appoints Matthew Diffley as Chief Accounting Officer
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 29 2026
0mins
Live Oak Bank (LOB) announced that Matthew Diffley has joined as chief accounting officer, leading the bank's financial reporting, accounting policy, general ledger operations and SOX compliance. Diffley joins Live Oak from Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF), where he served as senior vice president, controller.
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Analyst Views on LOB
Wall Street analysts forecast LOB stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 41.800
Low
35.00
Averages
42.67
High
50.00
Current: 41.800
Low
35.00
Averages
42.67
High
50.00
About LOB
Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company for Live Oak Banking Company (the Bank). The Bank specializes in providing lending and deposit-related services to small businesses nationwide. The Bank operates a national online platform for small business lending and deposit gathering. In addition to the Bank, the Company directly or indirectly holds wholly owned subsidiaries, including Live Oak Ventures, Inc. (Live Oak Ventures), Live Oak Grove, LLC (Grove), and Government Loan Solutions, Inc. (GLS). Live Oak Ventures has an investment in Synply, Inc. (Synply). Synply is a cloud-based technology platform designed to simplify the loan syndication process for financial institutions. The Grove provides Company employees and business visitors with on-site dining at the Company’s Wilmington, North Carolina headquarters. GLS is a management and technology consulting firm that advises and offers solutions and services to participants in the government-guaranteed lending sector.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Director of Live Oak Bancshares Indirectly Sells Shares
- Indirect Share Sale: William L. III Williams, a director at Live Oak Bancshares, indirectly sold 8,400 shares of common stock on June 24, 2026, for approximately $336,000, resulting in a roughly 0.6% reduction in his overall stake.
- Ownership Analysis: Post-transaction, Williams's direct holdings remained unchanged while indirect holdings decreased to 1,282,060 shares, maintaining over 1.33 million shares in total, indicating sustained confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Trading Plan Context: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on March 12, 2026, suggesting it was a pre-scheduled liquidity event rather than a discretionary shift in investment outlook, reflecting stability in his investment strategy.
- Company Performance Highlights: Live Oak Bancshares experienced nearly a 40% increase in stock price over the past year, with $1.37 billion in loans originated in Q1, $146.4 million in deposit growth, and net income nearly tripling year-over-year, showcasing strong operational momentum in the commercial banking sector.
See More
Live Oak Bancshares Director Sells Shares Indirectly
- Indirect Share Sale: Live Oak Bancshares director William L. III Williams indirectly sold 8,400 shares on June 24, 2026, for approximately $336,000 at around $40.05 per share, indicating a modest reduction in his stake.
- Holding Status: Post-transaction, Williams retains 52,825 direct shares and 1,282,060 indirect shares, resulting in a roughly 0.6% decrease in his overall holdings, which suggests continued confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Strong Financial Performance: In Q1 2026, Live Oak Bancshares originated $1.37 billion in loans, grew deposits by $146.4 million, and increased total assets by 12.5% year-over-year to $15.3 billion, showcasing robust operational momentum in the regional banking sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: The company's stock surged nearly 40% over the past year, reflecting market recognition of its differentiated business model; while the director's share sale may attract attention, the ongoing loan and deposit growth remains the key focus for investors.
See More
Live Oak Bank Appoints New Chief Accounting Officer
- Executive Appointment: Live Oak Bank has appointed Matthew S. Diffley as Chief Accounting Officer, overseeing financial reporting, accounting policy, general ledger operations, and SOX compliance, aiming to enhance the bank's financial management capabilities.
- Extensive Experience: With over 20 years of finance and accounting leadership experience, Diffley has successfully built high-performing teams and modernized financial reporting functions at publicly traded banking institutions, which is expected to provide strong support for Live Oak's rapid growth.
- Strategic Partnership: While at Seacoast Banking Corporation, Diffley led a 33-person team that expanded assets from $5 billion to $21 billion, demonstrating his exceptional capabilities in high-growth environments.
- Educational Background: Diffley holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Miami University and a master's degree in accounting from The Ohio State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant, further enhancing his expertise in the financial field.
See More
Live Oak Bancshares CEO Sells 20,000 Shares, Implications for Investors
- Insider Selling Activity: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. “Chip” Mahan III indirectly sold 20,000 shares on June 10 and 11, 2026, for approximately $769,000, a transaction size consistent with his historical trading patterns, indicating a trend of steady selling.
- Ownership Structure Analysis: Post-transaction, Mahan holds no direct shares while maintaining 6,274,875 indirect shares, which raises concerns among investors regarding confidence in the company, especially given the absence of direct ownership.
- Market Performance and Risks: Despite a nearly 12% gain in 2026, Live Oak Bancshares remains at about half its value from five years ago, highlighting ongoing challenges that investors need to carefully assess in light of Mahan's selling activity.
- Executive Compensation and Market Signals: With Mahan earning nearly $1 million in salary, bonuses, and benefits, his selling does not necessarily indicate bearish sentiment; however, selling during a rebound could be perceived as a negative signal, prompting investors to weigh this alongside other data when evaluating the stock.
See More
Live Oak Bancshares CEO Sells 20,000 Shares for $769,000
- Insider Selling: Live Oak Bancshares Chairman and CEO Chip Mahan sold 20,000 shares between June 10 and 11, 2026, at a weighted average price of $38.46 per share, totaling approximately $769,000, indicating a trend of insider selling that raises investor concerns.
- Shareholding Status: After the sale, Mahan retains 6,274,875 shares of common stock, all held indirectly through family trusts and related entities, suggesting a significant ongoing investment in the company, yet the selling activity is noteworthy.
- Market Reaction: Despite Live Oak Bancshares experiencing nearly a 12% gain in 2026, Mahan's continued selling could be interpreted as a negative signal regarding the company's future prospects, especially as the stock remains about half its value from five years ago.
- Investor Caution: While Mahan's sales do not necessarily indicate a bleak outlook for the company, investors should carefully weigh this signal, particularly after years of market headwinds, as it may impact overall investor confidence.
See More
Delaware Community Solar Projects Secures Financing
- Successful Financing: Aligned Climate Capital secured $33 million in construction financing for the Rifle Range Solar and Delaware Avenue Solar projects through Live Oak Bank's Renewable Energy Lending team, with a total capacity of approximately 11.8 MWdc, expected to generate 18.2 million kWh annually, significantly enhancing local clean energy supply.
- Significant Environmental Impact: The projects are projected to power around 1,661 Delaware homes while avoiding approximately 11,100 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, with an estimated total savings of $9 million over the project's lifespan, highlighting the positive environmental impact of renewable energy.
- Job Creation: The construction of these projects is expected to support approximately 141 construction and installation jobs, not only boosting local economic development but also providing sustainable employment opportunities for the community, thereby enhancing the social value of the projects.
- Policy Support and Innovative Design: The Delaware projects benefit from the Investment Tax Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act and qualify for an additional 10% bonus credit due to their location in an IRA-designated Energy Community, while the project design also incorporates measures to protect archaeological sites, demonstrating respect for environmental and historical considerations.
See More
Director of Live Oak Bancshares Indirectly Sells Shares
- Indirect Share Sale: William L. III Williams, a director at Live Oak Bancshares, indirectly sold 8,400 shares of common stock on June 24, 2026, for approximately $336,000, resulting in a roughly 0.6% reduction in his overall stake.
- Ownership Analysis: Post-transaction, Williams's direct holdings remained unchanged while indirect holdings decreased to 1,282,060 shares, maintaining over 1.33 million shares in total, indicating sustained confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Trading Plan Context: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on March 12, 2026, suggesting it was a pre-scheduled liquidity event rather than a discretionary shift in investment outlook, reflecting stability in his investment strategy.
- Company Performance Highlights: Live Oak Bancshares experienced nearly a 40% increase in stock price over the past year, with $1.37 billion in loans originated in Q1, $146.4 million in deposit growth, and net income nearly tripling year-over-year, showcasing strong operational momentum in the commercial banking sector.
See More
Live Oak Bancshares Director Sells Shares Indirectly
- Indirect Share Sale: Live Oak Bancshares director William L. III Williams indirectly sold 8,400 shares on June 24, 2026, for approximately $336,000 at around $40.05 per share, indicating a modest reduction in his stake.
- Holding Status: Post-transaction, Williams retains 52,825 direct shares and 1,282,060 indirect shares, resulting in a roughly 0.6% decrease in his overall holdings, which suggests continued confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Strong Financial Performance: In Q1 2026, Live Oak Bancshares originated $1.37 billion in loans, grew deposits by $146.4 million, and increased total assets by 12.5% year-over-year to $15.3 billion, showcasing robust operational momentum in the regional banking sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: The company's stock surged nearly 40% over the past year, reflecting market recognition of its differentiated business model; while the director's share sale may attract attention, the ongoing loan and deposit growth remains the key focus for investors.
See More
Live Oak Bank Appoints New Chief Accounting Officer
- Executive Appointment: Live Oak Bank has appointed Matthew S. Diffley as Chief Accounting Officer, overseeing financial reporting, accounting policy, general ledger operations, and SOX compliance, aiming to enhance the bank's financial management capabilities.
- Extensive Experience: With over 20 years of finance and accounting leadership experience, Diffley has successfully built high-performing teams and modernized financial reporting functions at publicly traded banking institutions, which is expected to provide strong support for Live Oak's rapid growth.
- Strategic Partnership: While at Seacoast Banking Corporation, Diffley led a 33-person team that expanded assets from $5 billion to $21 billion, demonstrating his exceptional capabilities in high-growth environments.
- Educational Background: Diffley holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Miami University and a master's degree in accounting from The Ohio State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant, further enhancing his expertise in the financial field.
See More
Live Oak Bancshares CEO Sells 20,000 Shares, Implications for Investors
- Insider Selling Activity: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. “Chip” Mahan III indirectly sold 20,000 shares on June 10 and 11, 2026, for approximately $769,000, a transaction size consistent with his historical trading patterns, indicating a trend of steady selling.
- Ownership Structure Analysis: Post-transaction, Mahan holds no direct shares while maintaining 6,274,875 indirect shares, which raises concerns among investors regarding confidence in the company, especially given the absence of direct ownership.
- Market Performance and Risks: Despite a nearly 12% gain in 2026, Live Oak Bancshares remains at about half its value from five years ago, highlighting ongoing challenges that investors need to carefully assess in light of Mahan's selling activity.
- Executive Compensation and Market Signals: With Mahan earning nearly $1 million in salary, bonuses, and benefits, his selling does not necessarily indicate bearish sentiment; however, selling during a rebound could be perceived as a negative signal, prompting investors to weigh this alongside other data when evaluating the stock.
See More
Live Oak Bancshares CEO Sells 20,000 Shares for $769,000
- Insider Selling: Live Oak Bancshares Chairman and CEO Chip Mahan sold 20,000 shares between June 10 and 11, 2026, at a weighted average price of $38.46 per share, totaling approximately $769,000, indicating a trend of insider selling that raises investor concerns.
- Shareholding Status: After the sale, Mahan retains 6,274,875 shares of common stock, all held indirectly through family trusts and related entities, suggesting a significant ongoing investment in the company, yet the selling activity is noteworthy.
- Market Reaction: Despite Live Oak Bancshares experiencing nearly a 12% gain in 2026, Mahan's continued selling could be interpreted as a negative signal regarding the company's future prospects, especially as the stock remains about half its value from five years ago.
- Investor Caution: While Mahan's sales do not necessarily indicate a bleak outlook for the company, investors should carefully weigh this signal, particularly after years of market headwinds, as it may impact overall investor confidence.
See More
Delaware Community Solar Projects Secures Financing
- Successful Financing: Aligned Climate Capital secured $33 million in construction financing for the Rifle Range Solar and Delaware Avenue Solar projects through Live Oak Bank's Renewable Energy Lending team, with a total capacity of approximately 11.8 MWdc, expected to generate 18.2 million kWh annually, significantly enhancing local clean energy supply.
- Significant Environmental Impact: The projects are projected to power around 1,661 Delaware homes while avoiding approximately 11,100 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, with an estimated total savings of $9 million over the project's lifespan, highlighting the positive environmental impact of renewable energy.
- Job Creation: The construction of these projects is expected to support approximately 141 construction and installation jobs, not only boosting local economic development but also providing sustainable employment opportunities for the community, thereby enhancing the social value of the projects.
- Policy Support and Innovative Design: The Delaware projects benefit from the Investment Tax Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act and qualify for an additional 10% bonus credit due to their location in an IRA-designated Energy Community, while the project design also incorporates measures to protect archaeological sites, demonstrating respect for environmental and historical considerations.
See More
