Florida Banking December 2024-January 2025

PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS

Banesco USA Announces Ponte as Treasurer, Morales as EVP and Chief Risk Officer Banesco USA has announced the appointments of Antonio Ponte as Treasurer and Jose Morales as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer.

Colony Bank Welcomes Franklin as Commercial Banker

Colony Bank announced the addition of Sam Franklin as Commercial Banker in Tallahassee. He will focus on serving local businesses, providing personalized banking solutions and financial advice. Franklin most recently served as Vice President, Commercial Banking

As Treasurer, Ponte is responsible for overseeing the management of the Treasury unit, with a deep focus on balance sheet management, investment strategies and liquidity risk mitigation. He will lead process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiencies and

Franklin

Relationship Manager for Prime Meridian Bank where he successfully managed and grew a portfolio of commercial banking customers. Previously, he was a Commercial Banking Specialist with Capital City Bank. Franklin holds dual bachelor of science degrees in real estate and risk management insurance from Florida State University. First National Bank Announces Carlee as Market President

Ponte

improve the bank’s overall profitability. He holds a master of business administration degree in finance from Emory University and a bachelor's degree in management from Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela.

Morales will lead the strategic direction of Banesco’s risk management and compliance programs. He and his team will collaborate closely with business leaders to strike the optimal balance between risk and business objectives, ensuring Banesco operates

First National Bank announced Christian Carlee as the new Market President for Miramar Beach. With 20 years of banking experience in the market, most recently with Trustmark Bank, Carlee is dedicated to building professional relationships and

Morales

Carlee

in a secure and responsible manner. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Puerto Rico. Capital City Bank Names Henderson Chief Information Security Officer Capital City Bank announced the promotion of Matthew Henderson to Chief Information Security Officer. He succeeds LeAnne Staalenburg McCorvey, who will retire in December. Henderson will lead the Corporate Security & Risk Department, overseeing the Information and Physical Security teams. His responsibilities include developing, overseeing, monitoring, managing and reporting on the security program in accordance with policy.

supporting his clients’ financial growth. “We are excited to have Christian on our team as he leads this market for the Bank. He has a heart for community banking and a passion for serving others” said Brad Barber, President and CEO. “I am incredibly excited to join the First National Bank team and develop the Miramar Beach market. The location is beautiful, the team is brilliant, and community focused. First National Bank’s dedication to building lifelong relationships and supporting the community truly resonates with me, and I feel blessed to be part of it. As we continue to grow, I look forward to welcoming current and future customers,” Christian said. Marine Bank Expands Mortgage and Commercial Lending Power Marine Bank announced the addition of three new lending professionals. Bernadette Ahern brings 15 years of mortgage lending experience to the bank’s Melbourne banking center. She has extensive

Henderson holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in management information systems from Troy University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, respectively. He serves the American Bankers Association’s Cybersecurity and

Henderson

experience in origination, underwriting and processing which enables her to streamline the homebuying process for Marine Bank’s clients. Heather Blair brings 22 years of mortgage lending experience to the

Operational Resilience Advisory Committee, the Risk and Compliance Conference Board and the Cyber Risk Institute’s Joint Standards Committee.

Ahern

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