Hawthorne, NJ, September 11, 2025
News Summary
Ascendia Bank has appointed two senior executives to strengthen commercial lending and information security. Jonathan Jacobs will lead commercial lending, overseeing underwriting, construction loans, loan approvals and a team of lenders and analysts, drawing on more than 20 years of industry experience. Paul Skinner joins as senior vice president and chief information security officer to manage IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, system integrations and disaster recovery, bringing over four decades of technology leadership. These hires support the bank’s regional expansion, align credit growth with secure systems and complement ongoing leadership succession and digital banking investments.
Ascendia Bank names new leaders for commercial lending and information security
Ascendia Bank has added two senior leaders to its management team: Jonathan Jacobs as vice president and commercial lending manager, and Paul Skinner as senior vice president and chief information security officer. The hires aim to strengthen the bank’s commercial lending operations and its technology and security systems as the institution grows beyond its original local footprint.
What the hires mean now
With these appointments, Ascendia is placing immediate focus on two critical areas: expanding and managing commercial credit and modernizing technology systems that protect customer data and keep services available. Jacobs will run day-to-day commercial lending activities, while Skinner will oversee information systems, infrastructure and cybersecurity work that supports the bank’s branches and digital services.
Details on the commercial lending role
The new commercial lending manager will handle underwriting and evaluation of commercial real estate loan requests, prepare loan approval memoranda, and provide continuing credit support for business customers. That support explicitly includes oversight and management of construction loans. Jacobs will lead a team that includes Commercial Loan Administrators, Commercial Credit Analysts and Commercial Loan Processors, and will be responsible for the performance and growth of the bank’s commercial loan portfolio.
Jacobs joins the bank with more than 20 years of experience in commercial lending and credit analysis. His prior roles include assistant vice president and portfolio manager where he oversaw loan portfolios exceeding $90 million, commercial lender and account manager positions, and earlier work at several regional banks. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Details on the information security role
The chief information security officer will manage the bank’s information systems, technology infrastructure and data processing operations. Responsibilities include developing and implementing IT and IS policies, system design and programming oversight, network and database management, and strengthening cybersecurity measures. The goal is to maintain secure, efficient and reliable systems that support banking operations and improve customer service.
Skinner brings more than four decades of information technology and operations leadership in the banking sector. His experience covers core banking system conversions, infrastructure upgrades, launching digital and mobile platforms, complex system integrations, cyber defense enhancements, disaster recovery planning and efforts to boost operational efficiency while keeping to regulatory standards.
Context on the bank and recent changes
Ascendia Bank is the new name for an institution that was long known under a previous local identity. The name change was presented as a rebrand rather than a change in ownership, and the bank said the rebrand did not trigger personnel changes. The new brand is intended to reflect a broader regional direction and a move toward more modern, customer-facing services.
The bank traces its roots to 1922, when it was established under a different name, and it adopted its former local name in the 1930s. The institution has invested in an administrative headquarters built in 2001 and made at least one acquisition in the 2010s. Publicly shared information about branches and assets varies by reporting date: earlier reports cited four branch locations and over $260 million in assets, while more recent figures show five full-service branches and total assets near $394 million as of March 31, 2025. Employee counts and asset totals can change with new filings and business activity, so those numbers reflect the most recent snapshots reported by the bank at different times.
The rebrand also included the roll-out or expansion of digital and commercial products such as internet banking, online bill pay, a mobile banking app, and commercial real estate lending capabilities. The bank’s public web address is listed under its new name.
Leadership transition and broader direction
The bank’s leadership roster has continued to evolve. A new president and chief executive officer has been identified to lead the bank into its next phase; that executive brings experience in community capital investment and prior roles at regional financial institutions, along with professional credentials in accounting and advanced banking education. The transition is part of a broader plan to align leadership, lending and technology with the bank’s long-term growth and community-focused work.
Bottom line
The two hires reflect a common strategy among community and regional banks: pair seasoned commercial lending expertise with veteran IT and security leadership to support loan growth and protect expanding digital services. For customers and business borrowers, the combination is intended to offer more lending options, closer credit support and a stronger technical backbone for online and mobile banking.
FAQ
Q: Who were the two leaders recently added to Ascendia Bank?
A: Jonathan Jacobs was hired as vice president and commercial lending manager; Paul Skinner was hired as senior vice president and chief information security officer.
Q: What will the commercial lending manager handle?
A: Oversight of commercial lending operations, underwriting and evaluation of commercial real estate loans, preparing approval memoranda, providing credit support for business clients, and managing construction loans and a team of lending professionals.
Q: What are the main tasks for the chief information security officer?
A: Managing information systems and infrastructure, writing and enforcing IT policies, overseeing network and database management, improving cybersecurity, and leading disaster recovery and system integration efforts.
Q: Has the bank changed ownership with its rebrand?
A: No. The rebrand was described as a marketing and strategic identity change rather than an ownership change, and it did not prompt personnel changes tied to a sale or merger.
Q: Where can I find more information about the bank?
A: The bank maintains a website under its new name where products and branch locations are listed, and it publishes periodic filings and press material that describe assets, branches and leadership updates.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New hires | Jonathan Jacobs (VP/Commercial Lending Manager); Paul Skinner (SVP/CISO) |
| Jacob’s focus | Commercial loan underwriting, commercial real estate, construction loans, loan approval memos, team leadership |
| Skinner’s focus | IT systems, network and database management, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, core conversions, digital platforms |
| Bank history | Founded in 1922; former local name adopted in 1930s; administrative HQ built in 2001; acquisition in 2015 |
| Rebrand | New name reflects broader regional strategy and added digital products; not tied to ownership change |
| Reported assets and branches | Public reports show varying figures by date: earlier reports cited ~4 branches and ~$260M in assets; more recent data shows 5 branches and ~$394M as of March 31, 2025 |
| Website | www.AscendiaBank.com |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- ROI-NJ: Ascendia Bank adds Jacobs and Skinner to senior executive team
- Wikipedia: Ascendia_Bank
- ROI-NJ: Allen named new president and CEO of Ascendia Bank
- Google Search: Ascendia Bank
- NJB Magazine: Ascendia Bank expands leadership team
- Google Scholar: Ascendia Bank
- ROI-NJ: Glen Rock Savings Bank rebrands as Ascendia Bank (2021)
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Ascendia Bank
- NJB Magazine: Glen Rock Savings Bank rebrands as Ascendia Bank
- Google News: Ascendia Bank
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