Florida Banking August/September 2024

“Whether it involves planting trees, preparing gift boxes for those in need, cleaning beaches, sponsoring events or mentoring youth, FirstBank’s partnerships not only showcase a commitment to giving back, but to fostering strong relationships with the communities we support,” Lacasa said. Lacasa is personally involved in the community. Last year, he served as president of the South Florida Banking Institute, a nonprofit professional organization that serves as a resource for bankers seeking to expand their knowledge and capabilities by providing education, research and networking opportunities for bankers in South Florida. Lacasa has served on the organization’s board for over 10 years; his term as president ended in June. “I feel blessed because I really enjoy what I do,” Lacasa said. “I like helping clients find solutions.” As a commercial bank, FirstBank recognizes the unique challenges small businesses face and strives to help them succeed and promote financial inclusion. “If you finance a hospital, you are financing healthcare and promoting community wellbeing. If you finance a shopping center, you are financing convenience and economic growth for the local community. If you finance a highway, you are creating better infrastructure. Each of these investments plays a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life and can drive positive change within the community,” Lacasa said. For the Florida Banking magazine cover, Lacasa posed at the Bayshore Club, a property the bank financed in the Coconut Grove neighborhood. The waterfront restaurant overlooks Biscayne Bay. The project was particularly meaningful for the local community after the destruction of Hurricane Irma in 2017; it took several years to remodel the public marina and the surrounding area. “These are the types of projects we are passionate about supporting, as they allow us to contribute to the community’s growth and vitality. By participating in these projects, we are not just investing in the area, but we are becoming an integral part of the community’s development journey,” Lacasa said.

José Maria Lacasa is executive vice president and Florida business director. He oversees the management and operations for the Florida region including Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking and Residential Mortgage. In his role, Lacasa is responsible for driving future growth in the region and achieving great regional results, along with continuing to enhance brand and client satisfaction in collaboration with the regional leadership team. He joined First BancCorp in 2013 and prior to his current role he was Senior Vice President and Corporate Banking Director. He has more than 20 years of banking experience and has held senior executive positions at other financial institutions, domestic and foreign, and served in various roles, including Credit Risk. Before moving to the United States, Lacasa worked with BNL / BNP Paribas Group in the Corporate Banking and the Capital Markets Departments in their London office. Above and beyond his banking responsibilities, Lacasa holds leadership roles in various South Florida civic organizations. He served as president of the South Florida Banking Institute and was appointed to the Florida Bankers Association Government Relations Council. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Financial Training and is a member of the Beacon Council. Lacasa received a bachelor’s degree in business management in finance & economics from the CUNEF School of Business (Spain). JOSÉ M. LACASA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND FLORIDA BUSINESS DIRECTOR

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2024 — 11