NYLIB Congratulates HAB Bank CEO Saleem Iqbal on his Election as Board Member of the American Bankers Association
NYLIB would like to congratulate Saleem Iqbal, President & CEO of Habib American Bank (HAB Bank), on his election as Board Member of the American Bankers Association (ABA).
HAB Bank is a New York State chartered bank that operates six branches in New York, New Jersey, and California, as well as an International Banking Facility (IBF) that provides correspondent banking services to international financial institutions.
Saleem has a long history as a leader in community banking. He previously served on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Advisory Council, consisting of twelve CEOs selected from more than 1,200 financial institutions, from 2011 to 2017. In 2016, Saleem was appointed to the ABA’s Community Bankers Council. In 2020, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) selected Saleem to join its Bank Advisory Board for a two-year term. In 2022, Saleem agreed to stay on CSBS’s Bank Advisory Board for an additional two-year term. In 2023, Saleem was appointed Chair of the ABA’s Community Bankers Council.
NYLIB is proud to count HAB Bank among our members. We look forward to Saleem’s continued leadership in community banking and involvement in our organization.
NYLIB Congratulates Michael Serao, EVP & CAO at First Central Savings Bank, on Community Leadership Award
NYLIB congratulates Michael Serao, the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at First Central Savings Bank, on receiving Quality Services for the Autism Community’s 2025 Community Leadership Award.
NYLIB is pleased to announce that First Central Savings Bank (FCSB) Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Michael Serao will be honored with the 2025 Community Leadership Award at the June 10th Believe Gala benefiting Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC)!
FCSB has long been a valued member of the NYLIB community. The bank was chartered and opened in 1999 by Joseph Pistilli with a single branch in Whitestone, Queens. At the time, it was the first new savings bank organized in New York State in 20 years. Over the past 26 years, FCSB has opened additional branches in Glen Cove, Astoria, Huntington, Bayside, Flushing, Ditmars, Forest Hills, and Lynbrook.
FCSB board member and audit committee chair Ed Lutz, a former FDIC regional director and community bank CEO, has served as NYLIB’s President since 2019. Michael has been an active participant in NYLIB for years and has served on our Advisory Board since March 2023, playing an integral role in NYLIB’s strategic direction and programming.
As FCSB’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Michael is responsible for managing FCSB’s strategic direction and planning, as well as its overall regulatory compliance and relations. Michael has led FCSB by hiring Business Development Officers (BDOs) who have embedded into the community to generate new deposits and loan growth, hosting free financial literacy classes and business development services for small business owners, cross-training FCSB tellers as “Universal Bankers” who can handle all account activity, implementing Remote Deposit Capture, and renovating FCSB’s branch network. Under Michael’s leadership, FCSB’s branches (which feature classic elements such as teller windows, Tuscan marble ceilings, granite columns, and intricate cornice work) have been featured in major films and television shows including The Irishman, The Joker, Law and Order, Ray Donovan, Mr. Robot, and The Americans.
Michael also leads the bank’s philanthropic efforts and has been able to marry his work in the banking industry with charitable causes that he is passionate about. He is well known for his commitment to philanthropy and public service, particularly in the LGBTQ and autism communities, and has won innumerable awards and honors for his philanthropy and public service. In 2024, Michael was featured as one of Fortune Business Review’s 10 Most Inspiring Leaders in Business.
Michael currently serves on the board of Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC), a New York City and Long Island-based nonprofit supporting children and adults with autism. He will be honored with QSAC’s 2025 Community Leadership Award at the Believe Gala on June 10, 2025.
Michael resides in Long Island with his husband, Dr. Fidel Abreu, the founder of Fidel Abreu, DDS PLLC, a full-service dental spa located in Freeport. Dr. Abreu prides himself on providing a safe space for LGBTQ and autistic patients, as well as free services for victims of domestic violence.
NYLIB President Ed Lutz reflected as follows on FCSB’s historical commitment to NYLIB and Michael’s appointment as an Advisory Board member: “FCSB and its founder Joe Pistilli have been an integral part of NYLIB since the beginning. While Joe continues to be an active and valued member of the NYLIB community, I am grateful that Michael Serao has stepped forward to take a formal leadership role at NYLIB. Michael is a young, talented, and energetic leader who is actively engaged in the New York banking community and has his finger on the pulse of the emerging issues that are important to bankers. NYLIB needs the active involvement of leaders like Michael to guide it in continuing to provide networking opportunities, programming, and services that provide value to the banking community. I hope that the NYLIB community will consider supporting Michael and QSAC at the Believe Gala on June 10th - the proceeds of which will support QSAC’s vital work in the autism community.”
NYLIB Congratulates Michael Tedesco on Appointment as President & CEO of Alpine Capital Bank
NYLIB would like to congratulate Michael Tedesco on his appointment as President and CEO of Alpine Capital Bank.
NYLIB congratulates Michael (“Mike”) Tedesco on his appointment as President and CEO of Alpine Capital Bank!
Alpine Capital Bank is a boutique, Manhattan-based bank that provides private banking with a personal touch. As President and CEO, Mike is responsible for managing Alpine Capital Bank's strategic direction and planning, as well as its overall regulatory compliance and regulatory relations.
Mike has extensive experience in commercial banking and has been hands-on in overseeing critical areas of commercial banks while navigating through several market crises during the last thirty years. Before joining Alpine Capital Bank, Mike served as the CFO and President of Modern Bank from 2007 through 2023. Prior to joining Modern Bank in 2007, he was the Controller of Union State Bank, a $3.0 billion NYSE-listed public bank, where he spent thirteen years.
Mike received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Binghamton University, followed by a Master of Science in Accounting and Master of Business Administration in Finance from Pace University. He is committed to public service and has served as Director and Treasurer of People-to-People, the largest food pantry in Rockland County, as well as President and Director of the Rockland County Division of the American Heart Association.
Mike Tedesco attending NYLIB’S July 2021 Liquidity and Funds Management in a Changing Environment Event
Mike has long been an active and valued contributor to the NYLIB community. He currently serves on NYLIB’s Advisory Board, which advises the organization on programming and strategic direction.
NYLIB President Ed Lutz commented: “Alpine Capital Bank has made an excellent choice! Mike is an experienced, strong leader who is actively engaged in the local banking community. NYLIB is proud to call Mike a friend and Alpine Capital Bank a member of the organization.”
NYLIB Congratulates Mac Wilcox on His Appointment as President of Hanover Community Bank
NYLIB would like to congratulate McClelland “Mac” Wilcox on his appointment as President of Hanover Bank.
NYLIB would like to congratulate Mac Wilcox on his appointment as President of Hanover Community Bank!
As President, Mac will be responsible for residential and commercial lending and business development, including strategic partnerships and new expansion opportunities. Prior to joining Hanover, Mac was President & CEO of Savoy Bank through its merger with Hanover in May 2021. At Savoy, Mac oversaw the bank's transition into a leading SBA lender and growth from roughly $80 million to nearly $700 million in assets through the origination of more than $1 billion in commercial loans across many industries, including technology, real estate, construction, hospitality, healthcare, apparel, contracting, retail, jewelry, and manufacturing. Previously, Mac co-founded a community development bank to serve underbanked communities in the South Bronx and across New York City. Mac earned a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from ASU, Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Mac has long been an active and valued contributor to the NYLIB community. He currently serves on NYLIB’s Advisory Board, which advises the organization on programming and strategic direction.
MAC WILCOX, STEVE SCHNALL (QUONTIC BANK), and PINCHUS RAICE (PRYOR CASHMAN LLP) SHARE A LAUGH AT NYLIB’S May 2021 CEO Roundtable
NYLIB President Ed Lutz commented: “NYLIB is proud to call Mac Wilcox a friend and Hanover Bank a member of the organization. Mac is a thought leader in community banking, and his appointment as President is well deserved. Hanover Bank is in capable hands.”
NYLIB Congratulates HAB Bank CEO Saleem Iqbal on His Appointment as Chair of the ABA Community Bankers Council
NYLIB would like to congratulate Saleem Iqbal, President & CEO of HAB Bank, on his recent appointment as Chair of the Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association.
NYLIB would like to congratulate Saleem Iqbal, President & CEO of HAB Bank, on his recent appointment as Chair of the Community Bankers Council (CBC) of the American Bankers Association (ABA). As CBC Chair, Saleem will help guide ABA's strategy on government relations issues and priorities.
Saleem has a long history as a leader in community banking. He previously served on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Advisory Council, consisting of twelve CEOs selected from more than 1,200 financial institutions, from 2011 to 2017. In 2016, Saleem was appointed to the ABA’s CBC. In 2020, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) appointed Saleem to its Bank Advisory Board for a two-year term. In 2022, Saleem agreed to stay on the CSBS’s Bank Advisory Board for a second two-year term.
Saleem Iqbal poses a question to DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris at a 2023 NYLIB event
NYLIB is proud to count HAB Bank among its members and looks forward to Saleem’s continued leadership in community banking. Saleem was recently profiled in the ABA Banking Journal, where he discussed his unique background, the vital role that community banks play in the communities they serve, and the challenge that “endless regulation” poses to community banks.