Five Star Bank expanded its commercial lending and cash management teams with the hiring of John M. Berry as commercial market executive, Mark Magee as director of treasury services and Kerth Friel as loan administration manager.
Berry will be responsible for expanding Five Star Bank’s business in both conventional project financing as well as affordable housing. He has more than 30 years of experience in commercial banking and commercial real estate finance. He previously served as senior vice president and Northeast region team leader for Community Development Lending & Investment at KeyBank and as first vice president of Commercial Real Estate for First Niagara Bank.
Magee will manage the bank’s cash management business for commercial customers and prospects, work with business partners to develop and deploy new cash management products and services and develop internal processes and associate training to enhance the treasury customer experience. He previously spent 29 years in Banking Treasury Management at HSBC Bank.
Friel will be responsible for the commercial loan closing and funding process. He has 20 years of Western New York banking experience and brings in-depth expertise to the administration of the bank’s commercial loan portfolio. He most recently served as senior closing coordinator for Community Development Lending at KeyBank. Prior to that, he served as portfolio administrator for Commercial Real Estate at First Niagara Bank.
William L. Kreienberg, chief corporate development executive for Five Star Bank, said, “We are proud to have these experienced banking professionals join our organization, further expanding our capabilities and improving our product offerings. Their hires demonstrate our commitment to the continued growth and strengthening of our commercial organization.”
Five Star Bank provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking and lending services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through a network of more than 50 offices throughout Western and Central New York State.
