Provident Bank, a subsidiary of Provident New York Bancorp, announced that it has hired a new commercial banking team in the New York City metro market. The addition of this team brings the total number of Provident Bank teams dedicated to serving the needs of businesses throughout the greater New York metropolitan area to 15.

John Hotchkiss and Richard Fischer were both named senior managing directors and will co-lead this new team. Hotchkiss and Fischer each have over 20 years of banking experience in New York City and joined Provident Bank from Herald National Bank where they led a team that built a significant portfolio of middle-market clients along with the personal banking of the business owners. Hotchkiss and Fischer have worked together as a team since their working relationship began in the early ’90s at Fleet Bank, which was acquired by Bank of America. They have developed significant expertise in C&I, healthcare finance, real estate and private banking.

Two additional hires were made in connection with this new team. Gerald Levine, who has over 30-years experience in banking with a focus on credit underwriting for the last ten years, was named senior credit analyst. Levine joined Provident Bank from Herald National Bank where he served as vice president, lending and credit officer.

Marie Joseph was named senior client associate. Joseph has over ten years experience in banking and joined Provident Bank from Herald National Bank where she served as private client senior associate.

This new team will operate out of the midtown Manhattan office and is the sixth Commercial Banking team added to the New York City Metro Market this year.