Florida Banking November 2022

was committed to continuing to invest capital in the Bank to grow it,” Garcia-Velez said. It was an exciting opportunity for Garcia-Velez to run a bank with a presence in both Florida and Puerto Rico. He calls Miami home and is just as comfortable in Puerto Rico after living and working there for years during his time with Citibank and FirstBank Puerto Rico. Garcia-Velez was also pleased to reconnect with his mentor and friend Carlos Palomares, his former boss at Citibank, who now serves as the acting chair of Banesco USA. Looking forward, Garcia-Velez says Banesco USA will continue to do what has made the Bank successful - maintain its focus on commercial lending, including commercial real estate and C&I small business lending. With clear purpose and company wide passion for its clients’ success, Banesco USA moves forward to deliver on its promises to the local community.

Banesco - Brickell

CALI GARCIA-VELEZ Calixto (Cali) Garcia-Velez is the chief executive officer of Banesco USA, a $2.6 billion full-service community bank with operations in Florida and Puerto Rico. Banesco distinguishes itself in providing superior products and services across segments including commercial , corporate, real estate, and consumer banking for both domestic and international clients. Prior to joining Banesco, Garcia Velez served as executive vice president for FirstBank Puerto Rico. Furthermore, he had a successful career with Citibank, where he served in various roles that included President of Citibank Florida, and Business Manager across several markets in the United States. He also served as President and CEO of Doral Bank in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Garcia-Velez is a graduate of the University of Miami, where he received both his bachelor’s and MBA degrees. Garcia-Velez has been involved in his community for many years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Miami-Dade, The Beacon Council, the Alliance for South Florida National Parks Trust, and was recently named to the Florida Bankers Association Board of Directors. He also serves as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer.

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM NOVEMBER 2022 — 11