Valley Bank expanded its relationship-focused commercial banking operations into the Phoenix, AZ market. With this expansion, Valley now operates in six of the top 10 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas based on population. These six markets represent over $2.3 trillion in deposits, over 60 million individuals and more than 135,000 small and medium-sized businesses.
Valley’s Arizona expansion will be led by a commercial banking team with deep local market experience and a strong track record serving middle-market companies. The team will focus primarily on commercial and industrial (C&I) banking. Valley plans to continue to add underwriting, treasury and support capabilities in the Southwest region.
“Our expansion into Arizona is a meaningful milestone for Valley and a natural extension of our commercial banking strategy,” Gino Martocci, president of commercial banking at Valley, said. “Arizona is one of the fastest growing and most capital-intensive economies in the nation. With population growth exceeding the U.S. average, more than $30 billion in annual business investment, and over $165 billion committed to advanced manufacturing alone, the state is attracting companies that are scaling rapidly and investing for the long term. Our existing presence through Dudley Ventures, and their connectivity to the local business community, gives us a strong foundation to build from. As one of the strongest regional banks in the country, we continue to invest strategically in markets where we can differentiate ourselves with experience and responsible scale, and deliver long‑term value for our clients and shareholders.”
The team will be overseen by Matt Weidle, regional president of commercial banking, and led by Heath Scheid, who joins Valley as regional president with more than two decades of commercial banking leadership experience in the Phoenix market. Most recently, Scheid served as managing director and Southwest region head for a financial institution, where he built and led high-performing commercial teams focused on middle-market growth, credit excellence and disciplined expansion.
Joining Scheid is Patrick Epum, who will serve as Arizona market president, and Chad Hunter, who joins as senior relationship manager. Together, the team brings deep expertise in commercial lending, treasury management, financial analysis and relationship management, with longstanding ties to the Arizona business community.
Epum has spent nearly two decades advising middle‑market companies on complex financing needs, capital structures and growth strategies, with experience spanning commercial banking, capital markets and institutional finance. Hunter brings a strong background in business development and relationship banking, with a proven record of building trusted partnerships across diverse industries and consistently exceeding growth and revenue goals.
“Together, Arizona and the broader Southwest are driving a disproportionate share of U.S. population growth, capital investment and job creation. With multi trillion-dollar regional GDP, sustained in-migration, and billions in annual private investment, the Southwest continues to emerge as one of the most dynamic commercial banking markets in the country,” Matt Weidle, regional president of commercial banking at Valley, said. “We’ve assembled an exceptional team to anchor our entry into Arizona. These leaders bring deep market knowledge, proven track records of driving results and a shared commitment to relationship‑based banking. They are exactly the right people to lead our expansion, establish Valley’s presence in the region and deliver on our brand promise of being a trusted, growth‑oriented partner to middle‑market businesses.”
Martocci added, “This expansion builds on momentum we’ve established in other growth markets and reflects our confidence in the long‑term opportunity in Arizona. We are investing in top talent, staying disciplined in our approach and focusing on markets where we believe Valley can truly differentiate.”
