Celandra Deane-Bess is a Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor at Bank of America Private Bank in the Washington, D.C. area. Leading a team of dedicated Bank of America Private Bank specialists, she has a thoughtful understanding of the needs of high-net-worth individuals and families with a desire to create a legacy. More specifically, the team of Bank of America Private Bank specialists she leads, works in concert to design and implement tailored financial strategies in investment management, trust and estate planning services, liquidity event strategies, lending and philanthropy. Celandra and her team also coordinate local resources and the national capabilities of the entire Bank of America Enterprise to help clients design strategies aimed at preserving and growing wealth and leaving a legacy for future generations that conveys vision and values, as well as capital.
For almost two decades, Celandra has lead teams who have helped high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients create strategies designed to manage their wealth so they can experience more freedom to pursue the lives they envision. She is passionate about addressing the financial needs of her clientele, which includes executive women and diverse communities, especially business owners and entrepreneurs who often must overcome challenges to achieve financial success. She has extensive experience working with clients who have acquired sudden wealth through the sale of a company, divorce or inheritance. Frequently working with entrepreneurs, Celandra leads with advice and guidance on such issues as: growing their business, realizing its value through a sale, and maintaining family ownership. She focuses on helping these wealth creators, navigate critical junctures in their financial lives, while recognizing that managing wealth is not a short-term pursuit.
Prior to joining Bank of America Private Bank in 2024, Celandra spent 12 years at PNC Bank Financial Services Group where she served as a Sr. Wealth Strategist, Wealth Strategist Regional Director, and Capital Area Market Leader at PNC Private Bank/Hawthorn Family office.  Most recently, Celandra was a Director at Lafayette Square, BDC, an alternative investment platform, capital raising from family offices, pension funds and high-net-worth investors. 
Celandra holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA^®) designations.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Celandra currently serves as a Board Trustee for The Arena Stage at the Mead Center for the Arts and LIFTDC. She is also active in both the UPenn, Wharton, and Booth Alumni groups.
Celandra is a proud resident of the historical Woodside neighborhood of downtown Silver Spring, just a mile north of NW Washington, DC where she resides with her husband and 3 sons.