By Hayley Robb, Building Kentucky
Republic Bank & Trust Company announced the launch of a new Commercial Real Estate Lending Division with the addition of Juan Vassallo as SVP, Director of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending. Mr. Vassallo will lead a team of highly experienced loan officers to expand and attract larger CRE opportunities. While this team will continue to service a wide range of transactions, it will focus more heavily on larger, more complex deals in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
“I’m excited to join Republic Bank’s high-caliber commercial lending team and help advance its Commercial Real Estate business throughout this region,” said Vassallo. “As a well-established community bank with more than $6 billion in assets, Republic has an incredible foundation on which to build and grow new opportunities.”
Vassallo has strong ties to community banking in Kentucky, having served as Executive Vice President and Director of Commercial Real Estate at Commonwealth Bank & Trust Company and Market President at Independence Bank. Vassallo got his start in Louisville with Liberty National Bank, which was acquired and renamed by Bank One Kentucky NA.
His more than 30 years of banking experience will help position Republic’s CRE Lending Division to serve an even wider range of clientele. From construction and development projects to permanent financing and refinancing opportunities, loan officers will serve a range of industry sectors including multifamily, industrial, warehouse, office and retail.
Vassallo reports to Steve DeWeese, Executive Vice President at Republic Bank & Trust Company. Joining Vassallo on the CRE Lending team are two veteran loan officers at Republic – Lisa Butcher as SVP, Senior Commercial Real Estate Officer and Phil Cooper as SVP, Commercial Real Estate Officer.
“Commercial Real Estate has been part of Republic Bank’s focus for years,” Republic Bank President and CEO Logan Pichel said. “Juan’s leadership combined with the tremendously talented associates we have dedicated to this initiative gives us the ability to serve a broader set of companies in our communities.”
For more information about Republic Bank and its CRE Lending Division, visit www.RepublicBank.com.
