MIAMI LAKES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 2016--
The past year has been one of growth and preparation for the year to
come for Miami Lakes, Fla.-based BankUnited (NYSE: BKU), the largest
independent depository institution headquartered in Florida with banking
centers in Florida and the New York metropolitan area.
During 2016, planning was put into place for future growth as it was
announced that Rajinder P. Singh, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer,
will succeed John A. Kanas, the company’s Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer, as President and CEO effective January 1, 2017. Mr.
Singh, along with Mr. Kanas, was one of the founding organizers of
BankUnited. Mr. Kanas will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of
Directors.
In other top leadership news, effective January 1, 2017, Thomas M.
Cornish, who currently serves as the bank’s President, Florida region,
will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer and BankUnited Executive
Vice President Scott Lublin will take the lead of the New York
commercial real estate lending business for the bank from Sam Giarrusso,
who is retiring and will remain available to the BankUnited team on a
consulting basis for the balance of 2017.
The year began with national recognition when Forbes magazine
placed BankUnited as #14 on its list of “Best Banks In America,” above
better known names including Capital One Financial, Wells Fargo, JP
Morgan Chase and Citigroup.
The foundation for continued growth was evident in BankUnited’s business
lending lines. Effective January 2016, subsidiaries Bridge Capital
Leasing and United Capital Business Lending were merged into a single
legal entity, Bridge Funding Group, Inc., which specializes in franchise
and equipment financing. Daniel McKew was named president, responsible
for leading the company’s loan origination, underwriting, syndication
and operations activities and Greg Faherty was appointed director of
operations responsible for managing and expanding the company’s
infrastructure.
Recent data released by the Small Business Administration for its fiscal
year which ended on September 30, 2016 ranked BankUnited as the 16th
largest SBA 7(a) lender in the United States by lending volume. During
the year, the BankUnited small business finance team grew its footprint
in Florida and expanded into Washington, Michigan and Wisconsin.
A focus on hiring and retaining top talent has remained a priority. As
part of BankUnited’s robust employee wellness program, the year ended
with the creation of a state-of-the-art employee gym at BankUnited’s
Miami Lakes corporate headquarters which contains training equipment
including machines and free weights and which will offer health
education events and group exercise classes. In addition, the bank’s
Dollars for Doers Program made its inaugural grants to nonprofit
organizations nominated by employees and to which they contribute their
time. During the year, BankUnited employees logged more than 1,400
volunteer hours in their communities.
BankUnited’s commitment to financial literacy was honored for a second
consecutive year at the Innovation in Financial Education Awards
presented by Nasdaq and EverFi. BankUnited’s continued efforts in 2016
to improve the financial awareness of young people included the Youth
About Business Summer Business Camp and Central Islip Senior High School
Financial Scholars Program in New York and South Florida initiatives
such as the 4 Downs for Finance program with Miami Dolphins Wide
Receiver Jarvis Landry, the Urban League of Palm Beach County Financial
Empowerment Center Credit Boot Camp, City of Fort Lauderdale Housing
Authority Step Up Apprentice Financial Empowerment Series, and
Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust Teen Court “Get Money” Week. In
addition, BankUnited provided more than $1 million in grants and
contributions to numerous organizations which support the bank’s
affordable housing and financial education initiatives in the
communities where it operates.
For more information about BankUnited please call (877) 779-2265 or
visit www.BankUnited.com.
About BankUnited, N.A.
BankUnited, N.A., a national bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of
BankUnited, Inc. (NYSE: BKU), is headquartered in Miami Lakes, Florida
with 94 branches in 15 Florida counties and six banking centers in the
New York metropolitan area at September 30, 2016. One of the largest
independent depository institutions headquartered in Florida by assets,
BankUnited provides a wide range of commercial and consumer banking
services. For additional information, call (877) 779-2265 or visit www.BankUnited.com.
BankUnited can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/BankUnited.official
and on Twitter @BankUnited.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161230005217/en/
Source: BankUnited
BankUnited
Mary Harris, 305-817-8117
MHarris@BankUnited.com
or
Savannah
Whaley, 954-776-1999, ext. 225
swhaley@piersongrant.com