Astoria Federal Savings Continues Expansion of Business Banking Group With Addition of Two Relationship Managers

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings, Long Island's fourth largest bank by deposit market share and the second largest community bank headquartered in New York, today announced that two more veteran business bankers have joined the organization's growing Business Banking Group as relationship managers. As vice presidents of the Business Banking Group, Gregory Alzner and Humberto Grueiro both focus on providing small and mid-market businesses in the New York area with strategic financial consultation based on strong local market knowledge. Alzner and Grueiro report to Fred Hugue, director of relationship management for the Business Banking Group in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester.  

Alzner plays an integral role in developing business banking solutions for business clients that address their individual needs. Prior to joining Astoria, Alzner spent 14 years working on Long Island and in New York City, most recently for Sovereign Bank in Manhattan. As a commercial banking account manager at Sovereign, his focus was to attract and manage business banking and middle-market relationships, specializing in commercial lending, deposit relationships, treasury management solutions, and merchant service solutions. At Astoria, Alzner focuses his business banking efforts in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Grueiro brings 15 years of banking experience to his work at Astoria, primarily focusing on the Westchester and New York City regions. During his career, he has served in various areas of financial services, business banking and communications outside of Long Island. As a result, he brings a new perspective that helps to expand Astoria's presence throughout its service area.  Prior to joining Astoria, Grueiro worked for TD Bank in Ramsey, N.J., where he received several awards for his work in small business lending, including being named one of the bank's top small business loan producers in 2012. Grueiro used his extensive experience to create several sales and training modules, which guided new relationship managers and business bankers on how to best work with clients.

"Our clients need consultants such as Greg and Humberto who understand both their business and local markets, and can address their needs through customizable programs. The additions that we have made to-date, and that we continue to make, emphasize our commitment to providing our communities' small and mid-market businesses with access to capital and cash management solutions that will help them grow," said Stephen Sipola, executive vice president and managing director of Astoria's Business Banking Group.

Alzner and Grueiro join a team that has expanded from eight to more than 30 since 2011, when Astoria made a concerted effort to expand its Business Banking Group as part of a strategic shift in its balance sheet through repositioned assets and liabilities.  Since that shift, Astoria has seen a double-digit increase in core deposits.

About Astoria Federal Savings
Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $16.1 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $10.2 billion, is the largest thrift depository in New York and embraces its philosophy of "Putting people first" by providing the customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 85 convenient banking office locations and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, www.astoriafederal.com.  Astoria Federal commands the fourth largest deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states.  Astoria Federal originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, a broker network in four states, primarily along the East Coast, and through correspondent relationships covering nine states and the District of Columbia.  Astoria Federal also originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the metropolitan area.

SOURCE Astoria Federal Savings