ORANGE COUNTY

In a move to bolster its credit operations, First American Bank & Trust has hired James A. Freeman of Escondido to fill the newly created position of senior vice president and chief credit officer and has hired Cathy Sundly of Oceanside as its loan officer. Freeman, 36, had been vice president and manager of the main office of San Dieguito National Bank in Encinitas. Sundly, 27, had held a loan officer’s position at the same bank.