EverBank (which is still temporarily doing business as TIAA Bank) launched a new fund finance division under the leadership of Jeff Johnston and Mike Mascia.

The new group is based in Charlotte, NC, and will expand the bank’s commercial banking operations by focusing on supporting alternative asset managers and the private capital community’s fund-level financing needs, including subscription credit facilities, NAV financing, hybrid facilities, management company lines and other customized credit, advisory and placement solutions. Mascia and Johnston will serve as co-leaders of the fund finance division.

The start of the fund finance business marks the first expansion milestone for EverBank since its return to the EverBank brand name. On Aug. 1, TIAA completed the sale of TIAA Bank to private investors with experience in financial services. Following the sale, the bank also announced it would officially begin operating as EverBank as again. The bank is temporarily going to market under the legacy TIAA Bank brand until early September, when it will fully convert to the new EverBank brand.

“We’re focused on growth, innovation and supporting our private capital clients in this new chapter and building a fund finance vertical led by sought-after experts Jeff Johnston and Mike Mascia to support our long-term strategy,” Greg Seibly, CEO of EverBank said. “The addition of these successful leaders is exciting for the bank and reflects of our commitment to the greater private capital community.”

Johnston previously founded and led Wells Fargo’s fund finance business. He is also a co-founder and the current chairman of the Fund Finance Association, an industry group that advocates for and supports the global fund finance market.

Mascia, previously the chair of the finance practice and a management committee member at the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, is credited with founding and/or co-founding the Fund Finance Association, the annual Global Fund Finance Symposium (now in its 13^th year), the Cadwalader Finance Forum, Fund Finance Friday and Fund Finance University. Mascia was also the contributing editor of five editions of the Pink Book, the fund finance industry’s legal treatise. Together, Johnston and Mascia have more than 40 years of fund finance experience.

“Jeff and I are thrilled to be part of EverBank and its leadership team,” Mascia said. “From day one, leadership has demonstrated a strong understanding and commitment to the fund finance business.”

“We’re looking forward to supporting our key private equity relationships and helping them accomplish their goals,” Johnston said. “The bank’s platform and values put the client first, and those characteristics complement our long-term, relationship-based approach to fund finance. The existing commercial lending verticals at the bank are excellent and we look forward to complimenting them with truly unique offerings.”