Dime Commercial Bancshares in Hauppauge, N.Y., has created an equipment and franchise finance group.
The company said in a press release that the group will be led by Keith Smith and will focus on middle-market companies and experienced franchise operators.
“Launching this new specialty reflects our continued commitment to disciplined and diversified growth,” Stuart Lubow, Dime’s president and CEO, said in the release. “We see a significant opportunity to support clients with essential equipment needs and to partner with high-quality franchise operators. Keith’s track record of building and scaling platforms and his familiarity with our existing team and operations makes him the ideal leader for this new vertical.”