Yesterday, Locality Bank received a bank charter from the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Cofounder Keith Costello announced that the bank would be open for business starting today. “Lots of thanks to my co-founders, Drew Saito and Corey LeBlanc as well all of our Locality Bank team,” he says. “We are excited to bring digital community banking to South Florida.” Saito, who holds degrees from Florida State (BS) and Nova Southeastern (MBA) and was senior VP at Pacific National Bank, serves as chief lending officer. LeBlanc, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from TUI, and was the chief digital and innovation officer and SVP at Origin Bank, has taken the role of chief operating officer and chief technology officer. Costello, who was the president and CEO of First Green Bank, was educated at University of Tampa (BS) and University of Miami (MBA). Locality Bank is “the first community bank to open in 10-plus years in South Florida with the capital to lend,” Costello says.
Photo of Costello by Brett Hufziger