City National Bank of Florida
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Leonard L. Abess, Sr., Max Orovitz, Baron de Hirsch Meyer |
| Headquarters | Miami , United States |
Area served | Florida (Miami-Dade County to Orlando region) |
Key people | Eugenio von Chrismar Carvajal (Chairman), Jorge Gonzalez (CEO) |
| Products | Banking services |
Number of employees | Close to 1,000 |
| Parent | BCI (since 2015) |
| Website | www |
City National Bank of Florida (CNBFL), based in Miami, Florida, ranks as the second-largest banking institution in the state, managing assets exceeding $26 billion. The bank maintains a network of 30 branches extending from Miami-Dade County to the greater Orlando region and employs close to 1,000 professionals. Since 2015, CNBFL has operated as a subsidiary of the Chilean financial group BCI.
History
Established in 1946 by Leonard L. Abess, Sr., Max Orovitz, and Baron de Hirsch Meyer under the name North Shore Bank in Miami Beach, CNBFL grew during the 1950s through the acquisition of Industrial National Bank and moved its headquarters to a notable location at 25 West Flagler Street. Today, its main office is situated in Miami Tower in Downtown Miami, with additional branches located across Broward and Palm Beach counties, as well as Orlando and Winter Park.
In early 2008, CNBFL was purchased by the Spanish banking institution Caja Madrid. The following year, Jorge Gonzalez, who brought extensive experience from Wachovia, assumed the role of CEO. In 2013, Bankia (the successor of Caja Madrid) agreed to transfer ownership of CNBFL to Chile’s BCI.
The bank significantly broadened its footprint in December 2017 by acquiring TotalBank from Banco Santander for $528 million; by mid-2018, TotalBank locations were fully integrated and rebranded under CNBFL. Further growth occurred with the acquisition of Executive National Bank in 2020.
The governance of CNBFL is overseen by a Board of Directors comprising 12 members, including Chairman Eugenio von Chrismar Carvajal and CEO Jorge Gonzalez.
Awards and recognition
City National Bank of Florida (CNBFL) has earned an “Outstanding” rating for community reinvestment from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for an impressive span of 18 years. It is recognized as one of Florida’s most financially robust banks, holding a consistent 5-star "Superior" rating from BauerFinancial. Additionally, American Banker magazine honored CNBFL as one of the Best Banks to Work For in two consecutive years.
Readers of the Daily Business Review have repeatedly voted CNBFL as Best Community Bank, Best Business Bank, Best Bank for Commercial Real Estate, Best Bank for Jumbo Loans, Best Private Bank, and Best Foreign National Mortgage Lender for eight straight years through 2020. The South Florida Business Journal awarded CNBFL Business of the Year in 2013 and recognized it as Community Bank of the Year in both 2011 and 2013.
Notably, in 2011 CNBFL was the sole retail bank in Florida without any customer complaints filed with state regulators. The bank achieved record earnings in 2012, further solidifying its strong market position. Prominent honors include:
- Business of the Year by the South Florida Business Journal in 2013
- Best Business Bank awarded by Daily Business Review readers in 2012
- BauerFinancial’s consistent 5-Star “Superior” rating since June 2012
- Jorge Gonzalez recognized as Ultimate CEO by the South Florida Business Journal
- Local/Community Bank of the Year by South Florida Business Journal in 2011
- Outstanding Community Service Award from South Florida Business Journal in 2012
- Mara Suarez named Businesswoman of the Year by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce in 2013