A regional bank based in Wichita with $4 billion in assets is expanding into business aviation with the addition of an aircraft financing division, Equity Bank announced yesterday. Leading the new division is v-p of business aviation Morgan Littell, who comes to Equity from Kansas City-based UMB Bank, where she oversaw a similar effort.

“She is the epitome of a customer-oriented banker who will be focused on client needs in a full range of aircraft financing, to include new and used piston-powered aircraft, turboprops, and jets,” said Equity executive v-p and COO Craig Anderson. “The development of our new aircraft finance division gives current and future customers an opportunity to improve their business travel.”

Littell has more than 20 years of experience in aviation, holding sales and marketing positions for the former Raytheon Aircraft (now Textron Aviation Beechcraft), as well as other positions at Sentient Jet and Ametek B&S Aircraft Parts & Accessories. Equity operates 52 branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.