Florida Banking December 2024-January 2025

KUDOS

Amerant Bank Celebrates Marlins Partnership Through ‘Marlins Saves’ Program

A merant Bank proudly presented a check for $7,500 to the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park for the Marlins Saves program. The proceeds support the Miami Marlins Foundation’s programs, which positively impact South Florida by creating opportunities for youth to stay active, achieve academic success and build leadership skills. More than 1,200 Amerant team members, guests and their families gathered to celebrate Family Day at the Ballpark and the milestone of the Marlins Saves program, showcasing Amerant’s dedication to supporting the community and extending its partnership with the Miami Marlins beyond the baseball field. “We are truly honored to support the Marlins Saves program and contribute to the Miami Marlins Foundation, which makes a positive impact on our community’s youth,” said Mariola Sanchez, Chief People Officer at Amerant Bank. “On behalf of B ank of Central Florida announced the grand opening of its new office in South Tampa. This significant milestone marks the completion of a two-and-a-half year process and emphasizes the bank’s strategic growth along the I-4 corridor. Paul Noris, CEO & Chairman of the Board, stated, “This expansion represents a pivotal step in Bank of Central Florida’s mission to serve the diverse financial needs of Tampa Bay residents and businesses. By establishing a presence in the bustling S t. Petersburg-based community bank, BayFirst, announced it has been named one of America’s Best-In-State Banks for 2024 by Forbes, coming in No. 1 in the state of Florida. This prestigious Best-In-State Bank award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, and was given to only 185 banks in the country. Winning banks were selected for fulfilling the unique financial needs and expectations of their local communities thereby being the most valued by residents of each state. The ranking is based on an

everyone at Amerant Bank, we are grateful and proud of our partnership, and we remain committed to making a difference.”

Bank of Central Florida Expands in South Tampa

SoHo District, the bank aims to contribute positively to the local economic landscape and build strong community relationships.” Lauren, the Tampa Bay Market Executive, remarked, “South Tampa is a dynamic area with a mix of individual consumers and thriving businesses, making it an ideal location for our new office. By positioning itself in this high-traffic area, the bank looks forward to enriching the local business community and becoming an integral part of the neighborhood.”

Forbes Names Bayfirst National Bank Florida’s Best Bank

independent survey and publicly available reviews. The full list of winners is available at forbes.com/ lists/best-in-state-banks/. “It is a tremendous honor to be ranked among the best banks in the nation and to secure the No. 1 spot in Florida, especially because it was direct feedback from our customers that led to our selection,” said BayFirst CEO Thomas G. Zernick. “We move forward more motivated than ever to maintain the high standards that earned us this recognition and continue to exceed the expectations of our valued customers.”

26 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING