Wells Fargo announced that Howard Halle banking industry veteran, community leader will retire at the end of this year.

Halle started his career 39 years ago in Miami in the International Banking Department of Southeast Bank, which became part of First Union and then Wachovia, acquired by Wells Fargo. Having spent the majority of his career in the Florida, Halle has led Commercial Banking in this market since 1999, with a four-year hiatus when he moved to San Francisco to build Wachovia’s Wholesale Business in the Western U.S. During his career with Wells Fargo, Halle has held leadership roles within Commercial and Corporate Banking, Investment Banking and Global Banking.

“Howard has positioned the Florida team for great success in future years and has built a strong leadership team,” said Perry Pelos, the head of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking. “He has always embodied my philosophy of thinking about and building our business for long-term success.”

A search for Halle’s successor is underway and is expected to be announced in early November.