Banesco USA Names Country Manager for Puerto Rico

MIAMI, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Maritza Abadia has been appointed Country Manager for the Puerto Rican banking operations of Banesco USA, a rapidly growing Coral Gables-based commercial bank, it was announced by President and CEO Rafael (Rafo) Saldana.

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Banesco USA had made a foray into Puerto Rico in late 2010 and taken over an existing bank branch in the Hato Rey banking district of the capital city of San Juan. Including the Puerto Rican branch, the bank presently has seven branches, with others in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida.

Saldana said Abadia's priority will be to further penetrate the Puerto Rican market and do it the old-fashioned way: one customer at a time and focusing on service. Trying to be partners with customers – and helping them meet their financial goals – will be an important part of her business plan for the branch, he added.

Abadia is an experienced, native Puerto Rican banker with an impressive track record in the island's banking industry. Her career has included top-level managerial positions in other Puerto Rican banking institutions, most recently as director of corporate banking at Citibank. 

"Banesco is proud to welcome Maritza Abadia, a distinguished professional in Puerto Rico's banking industry, as our new Country Manager for Puerto Rico," noted Saldana, himself a native of Puerto Rico. "We're sure her experience and knowledge of the market, along with the quality of the executive staff she will lead, will give our Puerto Rico operations the vital direction it needs to contribute to the ongoing development of a market highly regarded by Banesco."

Abadia has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Puerto Rico. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Banesco USA has been rated four stars (on a zero-to-five rating) by Coral Gables-based Bauer-Financial, which bases its ratings on such factors as capital, profitability, loan quality and liquidity. The bank has been gradually growing in Miami-Dade and Broward, both organically and through acquisitions. Founded in 2006, it has been on a buying spree of late due to its strength.

It acquired North-Lauderdale-based Security Bank, N.A. in May. Also in May, it acquired a Weston branch and deposits from Great Florida Bank. And in August it completed the purchase of a branch in Pompano Beach from Flagler Bank. Before these purchases, the bank had branches in Coral Gables, Doral and Puerto Rico.

With the recent acquisitions, the bank presently has seven branches in Miami-Dade, Broward and Puerto Rico.

Banesco USA is a U.S. domestic bank organized in the State of Florida, practicing diversified prudent growth for sustainable profitability and providing stability to its customer and the markets served.

Banesco USA has its main South Florida offices in Coral Gables at 150 Alhambra Circle. Its Puerto Rican branch is located at 255 Avenida Ponce de Leon in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.banescousa.com.

SOURCE Banesco USA