City National Bank of Florida Strengthens Tampa Bay Presence

CNB’s expanded team will spearhead the $26 billion bank’s growth in Tampa and along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

MIAMI, FL – June 12, 2024 – City National Bank of Florida (CNB) is sharpening its focus on strategic growth in the Tampa Bay region and along the state’s Gulf Coast with the addition of a new leadership team, expanded office space, and plans for new banking centers.

With $26 billion in assets, Miami-based CNB is one of the largest banks based in Florida and ranks among the 75 largest banks in the U.S., according to The Federal Reserve.

Leading CNB’s growth in Tampa will be Jason Russek, who joins the bank this month as West Florida Market President. Russek brings more than 20 years of experience in the commercial banking sector, having held roles at some of Florida’s largest institutions. Jason will report to John Paradisi, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. In addition, also joining CNB are Jason Costello, Director of Corporate Banking; Brian Holliday, Director of Wholesale Risk; Christopher Comella, VP of Commercial Banking; Dianne Cohrs, VP of Commercial Banking; and Aaron Malarick, AVP of Commercial Banking.

CNB’s expansion in Tampa Bay marks the continuation of a statewide strategy that has seen the bank grow its footprint in key markets, with new offices and relationship managers now serving clients in Central Florida, Palm Beach County, and the Treasure Coast.

Home to 3.3 million people and a rising population of businesses and residents that ranks Tampa Bay among the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, expanding in the region is a natural next step for CNB, according to Vice Chairman and CEO Jorge Gonzalez.

“City National Bank has been serving Florida businesses and families for more than 75 years. Our focus on relationship banking and local decision-making has been well-received by Tampa Bay clients in recent years, and continued growth in this community is a top priority as we embark on our next phase of growth. Our vision is to solidify CNB as Florida’s bank of choice and employer of choice, and establishing a strong presence in Tampa Bay and along Florida’s West Coast is essential to achieving those goals,” Jorge Gonzalez said.

CNB’s expanded team will continue to offer an array of services to Tampa-area clients, including commercial and corporate banking, private banking and wealth management, commercial real estate lending, and more. The Tampa office will serve clients along Florida’s Gulf Coast, in communities including St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Fort Myers, and Naples.

CNB’s continued investment in talent will accelerate its growth strategy on the West Coast, which will lead into investing in additional corporate office space and banking centers in Tampa and surrounding markets. The bank will also create a Tampa Bay Advisory Board comprised of regional business and civic leaders who will contribute to the bank’s market strategy.
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“City National Bank is pursuing expansion across Florida and bolstering our market presence in Tampa is a cornerstone of that strategy. The addition of Jason and his seasoned team will enhance our ability to provide personalized service to Tampa-area businesses and families. Expanding our team is a major step forward, and we're committed to making additional investments in talent and infrastructure as we establish City National Bank as a prominent player in Tampa and throughout the Gulf Coast,” said John Paradisi, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for CNB.

About City National Bank

City National Bank (CNB) is the financial institution to which Floridians have turned for more than 75 years. Based in Miami, CNB has a presence across South and Central Florida with 1,000 employees statewide. With more than $26 billion in assets, CNB is one of the state’s largest financial institutions and one of the nation’s fastest-growing banks. CNB is a subsidiary of Chilean bank Banco de Credito e Inversiones (Bci) and remains a community-centric bank guided by local decision-making, with services including commercial banking, real estate lending, private banking, wealth management, international banking, treasury management, corporate services, commercial real estate, residential mortgages, and a capital markets group which offers loan syndication, specialty finance and capital placement. CNB is rated 5 stars "Superior" by Bauer Financial and has earned an “Outstanding” Community Reinvestment Act rating for its lending in underserved communities for more than 20 consecutive years. The bank has been certified a Great Place to Work® and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker magazine.

Media Contact: ‍

Aaron Gordon
aaron@schwartz-media.com
305.962.3292