Charles Shediac and Karen Cohn Join First Commons Bank's Commercial Lending Team

NEWTON, Mass., May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- First Commons Bank, N.A., of Newton, Mass., has announced that two senior-level executives have joined its Commercial Lending Team: Charles R. Shediac, as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, and Karen Cohn, as Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer. First Commons Bank opened for business on July 22, 2009, and serves businesses and individuals in Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and Eastern Massachusetts.

"Mr. Shediac and Ms. Cohn bring significant senior-level commercial lending expertise and nearly 72 years of combined banking experience to the First Commons Bank lending team," said Tony Nuzzo, First Commons Bank Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "By joining our team, Charlie and Karen are further strengthening our commitment to providing a full-range of financial resources for local and regional businesses – backed by personalized customer service and professional guidance."

Mr. Shediac will lead First Commons Bank's commercial lending team with responsibility for growing the company's commercial loan assets. Mr. Shediac, of South Boston, Mass., is an experienced chief lending officer with 37 years of experience in Massachusetts banking. For the last five years, he has served as Chief Loan Officer at Georgetown Savings Bank in Georgetown, Mass. Previously, he was the Chief Lending Officer at First Trade Union Bank and, earlier, at Greater Boston Bank. He also served in a number of positions with several other leading Boston-area banks. Mr. Shediac is active in the Boston community and is a graduate of Suffolk University.

Ms. Cohn, of Saugus, Mass., brings 35 years of lending experience to the bank. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer at Georgetown Savings Bank. Previously, she was Senior Vice President and Senior Lender at First Trade Union Bank, and before that, she was Vice President at Eagle Bank. She has held additional positions in both banking and real estate in Massachusetts. She attended Bentley College.

About First Commons Bank

First Commons Bank, N.A., is a new, nationally chartered, FDIC-insured full-service community bank, dedicated to serving the businesses and individuals of Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and eastern Massachusetts. The bank, which opened for business in 2009, reports total assets of more than $119 million, making it larger than 41% of all FDIC-insured banks in the U.S. First Commons Bank provides clients with superior, personalized service and the highest-quality banking through its onsite management team, experienced staff members, a unique and welcoming branch environment, and advanced banking technologies. Of note: Tony Nuzzo, Chairman, President, and CEO, was named Financial Services Executive of the Year in the prestigious 2010 American Business Awards. First Commons Bank (http://firstcommonsbank.com) is headquartered at 718 Beacon Street in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Follow First Commons Bank on Facebook at http://facebook.com/firstcommonsbank, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/firstcommonsbnk, and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/first-commons-bank-newton-centre-ma.

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SOURCE First Commons Bank, N.A.