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BayFirst in Florida to enter healthcare lending with banker hire

BayFirst Financial in St. Petersburg, Fla., is expanding into healthcare lending after hiring a veteran banker.

The $1.1 billion-asset bank said it hired Phil Russo to serve as director of healthcare lending. He is also responsible for building out BayFirst’s treasury team.

Russo “brings vast knowledge of the complex issues facing medical service providers to this role, which will enable us to better serve the specific needs of these businesses,” Thomas Zernick, BayFirst’s CEO, said in a press release.

“His experience will significantly benefit our team as well as this critical sector of our state’s economy, and I look forward to seeing him drive results to help us increase our overall impact and success,” Zernick added.

Russo has held similar roles at United Community Bank, Southstate Bank and First Citizens Bank.

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