Hudson Valley Bank announced the launch of its asset-based lending group. The newly formed unit, which will be led by a team of banking industry veterans, underscores Hudson Valley Bank’s commitment to driving loan growth in 2013 and beyond and providing more comprehensive lending products focused on small and middle market companies.

The bank said the unit will be led by Mark Fagnani, a seasoned professional with 34 years of experience in commercial lending. Prior to joining Hudson Valley Bank, Fagnani was a managing director and chief credit officer of Wachovia Capital Finance. Fagnani began his career at Congress Financial as a credit and collateral analyst and over the course of his 33-year tenure held a range of positions at Congress and its successor companies First Union Business Credit, Wachovia Capital Finance and Wells Fargo Foothill (now known as Wells Fargo Capital Finance). In addition, Mr. Fagnani was Principal of MSF Associates, an advisory firm working for borrowers, lenders and/or counsel for lenders.

Joining Fagnani are Kenneth J. Murphy and Richard S. Lampack. Murphy is a lending and marketing specialist with extensive experience in underwriting, structuring and negotiating mid-market, asset-based and cash flow transactions. Before joining Hudson Valley Bank, Murphy was vice president, new business development officer at Transportation Alliance Bank in New York. Prior to that role, Murphy served in a number of senior positions at an array of financial institutions including Transamerica Business Capital and Fleet Capital.

Lampack is a commercial finance and financial administration specialist with expertise managing and supporting financial services and bank lending products. In addition to having served as an independent finance and operations consultant on new business ventures, start-ups and reorganizations, Lampack also worked as a finance officer at Wells Fargo Capital Finance and Business Unit officer and product controller at Wachovia Capital Finance, among other positions.

“Our move into asset-based lending addresses the growing need in the market for alternative financing solutions,” said Stephen R. Brown, president and CEO of Hudson Valley Bank. “As the economy continues to recover, businesses are looking to invest and grow and require a broader range of lending options. The flexibility of asset-based solutions as compared to other capital sources are particularly appealing to the small- and mid- sized companies that make up our customer base. The addition of asset-based lending not only enables us to offer our existing customers a far greater range of services, but also provides a strong opportunity for in-market loan growth and for us to diversify geographically as well.”

Reporting directly to Brown, the team will be charged with designing and launching an array of asset-based solutions for companies with credit needs between $2.5 million and $25 million—the range typically underserved by the country’s big banks. Hudson Valley Bank’s asset-based financing structures will be customized to the unique needs of small and medium-sized businesses in the region looking to achieve a range of objectives including financing capital improvements, increasing inventory or expanding payrolls.