Professional Bank, which opened during the Great Recession and has become one of South Florida’s fastest-growing financial institutions, is taking its concierge-style platform to other Florida regions. The Bank announced it is opening loan production offices in Tampa/St. Petersburg and Jacksonville to tap into the strong economic growth in those markets.
For the Coral Gables-based Bank, the move marks the first time it has expanded within the state beyond South Florida. In 2020, it opened a loan production office in New England to focus exclusively on a niche lending product.
“We have been interested in entering both of these markets for some time, but wanted to wait for the right opportunity,” said Daniel R. Sheehan, Chairman and CEO of Professional Bank and Professional Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:PFHD). “With the pandemic largely behind us, and the right team in place, we are excited about our prospects in both Tampa and Jacksonville.”
Professional Bank tapped banking veteran Darren Lydting, as Executive Vice President/Regional Market Executive, to oversee the expansion. He is based in St. Petersburg.
Lydting started his career in South Florida in the mid-1990s and for the last several years was responsible for growing the presence of two different banks in Central and North Florida. Immediately prior to joining Professional Bank, Lydting was Market President for the Tampa Bay area for a prominent regional bank headquartered in Arkansas. Before that, he spent nearly two decades with an established Miami-based bank, most recently as an Executive Vice President.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Professional Bank team and help it accomplish its growth objectives outside of South Florida,” said Lydting. “This is a Bank that really gets it. Everything they do is focused on building strong relationships with clients and helping them get what they need. I believe this will be a welcome message to businesses and individuals in Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.”
Initially, Professional Bank plans on employing eight people between the two markets. Lydting has already hired two bankers to join his team in Tampa Bay, with plans to add two more.
Three additional team members will be hired in Jacksonville. Most of the positions will be loan officers tasked with developing new business. The Bank expects to finalize leases for office space in both markets in the coming weeks.
Professional Bank was established in 2008 to provide a private banking experience for small- to mid-size businesses and individuals. The Bank experienced tremendous organic growth over the next decade by focusing on building strong relationships and offering customized banking solutions.
In February 2020, the Bank went public and sold its shares on the open market. Six weeks later, it completed a deal to merge with Coral Gables-based Marquis Bank, adding new customers and branch locations in South Florida. Through its Digital innovation Center in Cleveland, Ohio, the Bank continues to make significant investments in technology to discover new ways to improve the customer experience.
About Professional Bank and Professional Holding Corp.:
Professional Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:PFHD) is the financial holding company for Professional Bank, a Florida state-chartered bank established in 2008 and based in Coral Gables, Florida. Professional Bank focuses on providing creative, relationship-driven commercial banking products and services designed to meet the needs of small- to medium-sized businesses, the owners and operators of these businesses, professionals and entrepreneurs. Professional Bank currently operates its Florida network through nine branch locations and two Loan Production Offices in the regional areas of Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, Duval (Jacksonville), Hillsborough and Pinellas (Tampa Bay) counties. It also has a Digital Innovation Center located in Cleveland, Ohio and a Loan Production Office in New England. For more information, visit www.myprobank.com. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
