Community Bankers of the Year — and Some Others Who Stood Out
November 28, 2012 12:05 AM
The hardest part of selecting Community Bankers of the Year is narrowing down the field to three. Here's a look at the trio who stood out the most and seven others who merit honorable mentions.
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Community Banker of the Year
John Corbett, CenterState Bank of Florida
Eight acquisitions in two years have positioned CenterState as one of Florida's breakout banks. Meanwhile, Corbett's shrewd maneuver into correspondent banking — as others were exiting the business — has generated new revenue streams and given CenterState an up-close look at banks it might want to buy down the line.
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(Image: Tim Healy)
Community Banker of the Year
Ronald Paul, Eagle Bancorp
The Bethesda, Md., bank Paul founded in 1998 has reported increased profits in 15 straight quarters, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. Raiding talent from larger rivals has helped Eagle significantly boost loans and deposits, but credit also goes to Paul, whose relentless pounding of the pavement has yielded lasting and profitable relationships with entrepreneurs, developers and local governments.
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(Image: Rick Reinhard)
Community Banker of the Year
Cathleen Nash, Citizens Republic
The Flint, Mich., company was on the ropes when Nash took it over in 2009, but she came in with a clear plan to shed problem assets and cut costs and by mid-2011, it was making money again. Investors liked what they saw — the stock price has more than doubled over the last 15 months — and were even happier in September when the company announced it would sell itself to FirstMerit for $912 million.
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(Image: Dan Nelken)
Honorable Mention
Sheila Mathews, Four Corners Bank
It's small — just $214 million — but the Farmington, N.M., bank continues to post big profits, and its returns on assets and equity are among the best in the industry.
Honorable Mention
Michael Vittorio, First of Long Island Corp.
The Glen Head, N.Y., bank is an industry standout, thanks to its stellar credit quality, an abundance of capital and knack for taking advantage of large banks' missteps.
(Image: Dan Nelken)
Honorable Mention
Bernard Clineburg, Cardinal Financial
The McLean, Va., bank has emerged as a mortgage-lending force in the Washington, D.C., region by aggressively hiring bankers away from larger rivals. It's the only community bank in the country named one of Sandler O'Neill's 25 "all-stars" for three years running.
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Honorable Mention
Alvin Kang, BBCN Bancorp
Last year's merger between Nara Bank and Center Bank created the country's largest — and now healthiest — Korean-American bank, and Kang is quickly capitalizing on its newfound strength. In October, the Los Angeles bank announced a deal for Pacific International in Seattle, and it continues to scout for deals in its market and beyond.
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(Image: Dan Nelken)
Honorable Mention
Joseph DePaolo, Signature Bank
Founded by DePaolo in 2000, the New York bank has posted record earnings in 12 straight quarters. The secret to its success: Hiring established teams of commercial lenders from rival banks.
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Honorable Mention
George Jones, Texas Capital
Even in fast-growing Texas, the Dallas bank is a standout. Its third-quarter profits climbed 50% on strong commercial loan growth and its stock is up 45% year to date. Like Signature, it has thrived by recruiting teams of bankers away from competitors.
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Honorable Mention
Ed Wehmer, Wintrust Financial
The CEO of the Chicago-area multi-bank holding company engineered deals for three failed banks and one open bank in 2012. Wintrust also beefed up its lucrative specialty-financing business with its acquisition of a Canadian firm that finances insurance premiums for corporate clients.
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