NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), a New York-based full-service commercial bank, announced today the retirement of George M. Klett, Group Director, Executive Vice President and Chairman of its Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Committee, effective January 2, 2018. He will remain active with the Bank in a senior advisory role until March 2020.
Klett joined Signature Bank in October 2007 from Capital One, formerly North Fork Bank, in Melville, N.Y., bringing four decades of experience to the Bank, along with a team of six carefully chosen commercial real estate and banking professionals. This team comprised some of the industry’s top commercial real estate lending veterans, who have continued their stellar reputation in CRE while at Signature Bank, based on personal relationships and exceptional service for which the Bank has become known.
Since joining Signature Bank, Klett and his team have been credited with significantly contributing to the growth of the loan portfolio and establishing our commercial real estate leadership position. Under Klett’s direction, Signature Bank has emerged as one of the most substantial commercial real estate lenders in the metro-N.Y. marketplace, and amongst the area’s largest multifamily lenders. As of the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Bank’s CRE portfolio was $23.6 billion, including $14.8 billion in multifamily loans.
Succeeding Klett are two colleagues, Joseph Fingerman and John Zieran, who originally joined Signature Bank with him a decade ago, and with whom he has closely worked for nearly 20 years. Both Fingerman and Zieran also are well known in the real estate community across owners, brokers and other key CRE constituents.
“We are committed to continuing to build upon the strong, solid foundation George has helped create while further leveraging the resources he put in place over the past decade. Additionally, with George on board as a consultant, he will serve as an advisor to Joseph Fingerman, John Zieran and our senior management team as we transition to new CRE leadership. We will continue on the path George and his team paved throughout the metro-NY commercial real estate arena to further expand our growing loan portfolio,” commented Joseph J. DePaolo, co-founder, president and chief executive officer at Signature Bank.
“When George initially joined Signature Bank, he brought strong relationships and unrivaled CRE expertise to our Bank, which have proved beneficial, as evidenced by the size of our current loan portfolio. During his tenure, he has prepared Joseph Fingerman and John Zieran for their new roles, and they will excel just as their predecessor did. From one Bronx guy to another Bronx guy, we thank George for all his accomplishments at Signature Bank, and look forward to our continued relationship,” DePaolo said.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Signature Bank management for the platform afforded me and my team, which enabled this institution to become one of the top CRE lenders throughout New York. I am confident in the succession plan senior management has put in place. I have personally worked with Joseph Fingerman and John Zieran for many years, who are now recognized CRE leaders in their own right. Under our consultancy arrangement, I will remain in regular communication with management and the team for several years, ensuring a seamless transition that allows Signature Bank to maintain its leadership role and continue realizing ongoing CRE success,” Klett concluded.
Klett, 67, received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, where he reached the level of Staff Sergeant. He serves on the Board of Governors for The Real Estate Board of NY, Inc., an organization representing the interests of real estate brokers, developers and commercial property owners, and is a member of the Lincoln Center Real Estate & Construction Council. He has appeared on the list of The Commercial Observer’s 50 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate Finance several times, most recently ranking eighth.
About Signature Bank
Signature Bank, member FDIC, is a New York-based full-service commercial bank with 30 private client offices throughout the New York metropolitan area, including those in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, Long Island, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and Connecticut. The Bank’s growing network of private client banking teams serves the needs of privately owned businesses, their owners and senior managers.
