Fireside Chat with Congressman Ritchie Torres
On October 1, the NYLIB community gathered for a fireside chat with Congressman Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative for New York’s 15th congressional district in the Bronx, moderated by Carlos Naudon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Ponce Bank.
Our Speaker
Congressman Torres began his public service in 2013 as a New York City Council member, becoming New York City’s youngest elected official and the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to office in the Bronx. In 2020, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he serves on the Committee on Financial Services. In July, Congressman Torres was one of 56 Democrats who crossed party lines to pass the Main Street Capital Access Act (H.R. 6955).
Our Moderator
Carlos Naudon is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ponce Bank, a federal savings association and MDI and CDFI headquartered in the Bronx, and of its publicly traded parent company, Ponce Financial Group, Inc. In 2025, he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, presented by the Ellis Island Honors Society to individuals who embody the values of the American spirit and the legacy of immigration.
The Conversation
Congressman Torres discussed 9/11, the Semiquincentennial, the affordability crisis and Mayor Mamdani’s agenda, the House Financial Services Committee’s priorities, the potential consequences of the November elections, the tension between the need for AI innovation and the risks posed by AI, the critical importance of community banks and CDFIs, the need to tailor banking regulation based on risk profile, and other topics of interest to the banking community.
NYLIB President Ed Lutz commented: “NYLIB is deeply grateful to Congressmen Torres for his time and insights, as well as to Carlos Naudon for putting together a spectacular fireside chat with the Congressman. The NYLIB community was gratified to hear the Congressman express his ‘love’ and appreciation for community banks, which finance the small businesses that employ so many Americans and power our economy. The Congressman’s willingness to take numerous unscripted questions from a diverse audience during the Q&A portion and to engage with the banking community was truly remarkable.”
Sponsorship & Future Events
Thank you to our event sponsor! Ponce Bank was founded in 1960, with its first branch in the Bronx, and has served the greater New York City and New Jersey areas for over sixty years. The bank seeks to improve the communities around it by serving low-income and minority customers and investing in local small businesses. Learn more here.
As NYLIB plans events and meetings, we welcome suggestions on topics or issues that interest banks in the tri-state area. Subscribe to our mailing list below to stay informed on news and upcoming events. If you are interested in sponsoring future NYLIB events, please fill out this contact form, and a member of our team will reach out.
From left to right: Demetris Giannoulias (Spring Bank); Luis Gonzalez (Ponce Bank); United States Representative Ritchie Torres; Edward Lutz (NYLIB); Dustin Nofziger (Pryor Cashman); Michael Serao (First Central Savings Bank)
Memorable Moments
Please enjoy more memorable moments from our evening here. We encourage you to download your favorite moments and share them on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to tag the New York League of Independent Bankers (NYLIB)!
