Jorge Gonzalez, CEO, City National Bank

In an interview with Invest:, Jorge Gonzalez, Vice Chairman & CEO of City National Bank of Florida, shared insights on the bank’s growth in Florida, its competitive edge in personalized service, its role in facilitating market investment, and its commitment to community support and technological innovation.

What were some of the key achievements of City National Bank in South Florida over the past year?

The most important milestone is our continued meaningful growth. We’re expanding within Florida, and key markets like Broward, Palm Beach, Orlando, and Tampa. We’ve also added new businesses to complement our model, enhancing the value we offer clients.

For example, we’ve expanded into capital markets and are preparing to add an insurance business to our portfolio. These additions reflect our commitment to improving products, services, and technology to deliver an enhanced client experience, helping clients achieve their goals.

What distinguishes City National Bank from competitors in delivering personalized services?

What sets us apart is our 80-year commitment to this market. We’re homegrown, we deeply understand the industries driving Florida’s economy, and have a highly recognized brand that attracts both clients and employees.

Our consistent focus on high-level relationship building also differentiates us. Clients value the access we provide to decision-makers who understand their needs, which they rarely find elsewhere. They quickly recognize the unique experience and value proposition we offer.

What impact has City National Bank had on South Florida’s market dynamics? 

City National Bank has played a key role in facilitating capital flow into Florida, particularly from markets like the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast. This influx of capital brings long-term investment opportunities, and we’ve been instrumental in helping investors navigate the Florida market.

We connect them with local partners, source capital, and identify key opportunities, enhancing their strategies and supporting business growth. In essence, we enable growth by connecting outside capital with the right projects and partners.

How has the economic climate influenced your strategies for serving clients across Florida?

We’re optimistic about Florida’s stable, long-term economic trajectory, which positions us for steady growth. Over the next 12 to 18 months, we plan to add about 200 employees across our markets and business lines. That’s a 20 percent expansion of our workforce. This will enable us to scale statewide while maintaining our focus on relationship banking.

This strategy reflects our confidence in Florida’s economy and our commitment to delivering exceptional service. Our goal is to provide employees with the tools, technology, and data they need to offer the best relationship-based service to clients. Expanding our team will also allow us to enter new markets and reach clients who haven’t yet experienced what City National Bank offers.

How has your advice to clients adapted with economic changes, and what trends are you observing in their financial behavior?

Many clients are concerned about rising interest rates and inflation, which affect everything from cost of living to business profitability. Thankfully, rates are starting to ease, offering businesses some breathing room and inflation appears to be moving in the right direction, but it’s too early to call it a trend while economic conditions remain uncertain.

In real estate, the rapid growth in valuations over the past few years has begun to stabilize, which is positive for Florida. Our advice remains focused on financial risk management — carefully managing leverage, diversifying portfolios, and preparing for potential downturns.

We prioritize long-term relationships, enabling us to support clients through challenging times. During slowdowns, clients need us most, and with sufficient capital and liquidity, we can provide the assistance they need to navigate these periods successfully.

What technological innovations is City National Bank leveraging to enhance client operations?

The most important catalyst for effectiveness is leveraging good data, which allows us to predict client needs and proactively deliver tailored solutions. Instead of reacting, we can bring actionable recommendations to the table.

Another focus is removing friction from the client experience. Whether clients interact digitally or with our team, we prioritize responsiveness, accuracy, and security. We’re heavily investing in resources to ensure connectivity meets the highest standards.

While technology plays a key role, we remain committed to a people-first approach. Our goal is not to replace human interactions but to equip our team with tools and data to enhance their value to clients. Digital banking works for daily tasks, but when clients need advice, encounter issues, or want to borrow, human connection becomes essential. Technology supports these interactions, ensuring clients feel secure.

What initiatives or technologies has City National implemented to enhance customer security?

Security is a shared responsibility, and we focus on educating clients and raising awareness. Strong security controls on their end complement our policies and technologies, creating a robust framework. We’re investing tens of millions of dollars in security to protect client data, bank data, and transactions. Security is a continuous process of evolving our risk management framework to address new threats.

While a great deal of attention is on digital security, there has been a resurgence in fraud involving physical checks — stolen, altered, and used fraudulently. This highlights the dynamic nature of security challenges and the need for constant vigilance.

We also encourage clients to regularly reconcile accounts, review banking activity, and verify emails. Basic measures like these are crucial in preventing fraud. Additionally, we use multiple layers of security, including multi-factor authentication, to ensure communication and transactions are secure.

Advanced technology, client education, and proactive monitoring form our first line of defense. Staying ahead in this “cat-and-mouse” game requires continuous improvement and collaboration with clients.

How does City National Bank support and invest in local communities?

Reinvesting in our community has been a cornerstone of who we are for 80 years. It’s ingrained in our culture, and we see it as our responsibility to give back.

We partner with hundreds of organizations statewide focused on areas like economic empowerment, education, arts and culture, and health and wellness, contributing millions to these causes that directly impact the communities we serve.

For example, we’ve partnered with the University of Miami, celebrating the school’s Centennial Anniversary, as their official bank for the next five years. This partnership supports the university’s role as an educator, employer, and cultural institution in Miami and exemplifies our commitment to long-term collaborations.

It’s a cycle — when we succeed, we reinvest in the community, creating opportunities and enabling further success for all.

What makes South Florida a great place for City National Bank to do business?

Florida’s prominence as a dynamic, business-friendly state makes it an excellent place to operate. Within Florida, key markets like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are especially vital. These areas have historically attracted international migration, but over the last three to four years, we’ve seen a significant domestic inflow of individuals and businesses relocating from other parts of the United States, including the Northeast, California, and Chicago.

The appeal is clear: great weather, a favorable tax environment, a pro-business government, cultural diversity, and a robust economic trajectory. These factors have drawn people and industries seeking opportunities to thrive in a dynamic, supportive environment.

This growth is not without its challenges, like increased traffic and a rising cost of living, but these are natural byproducts of a flourishing economy. Over time, these issues will be absorbed into the larger economic framework.

Additionally, we’re seeing existing industries expand while new industries establish themselves. This is creating more employment opportunities and making it easier for companies like ours to attract top talent. In the past, recruiting from other regions was more challenging, but now we’re bringing in exceptional talent from across the country, further fueling growth and opportunity in the state.

What is your regional vision for the next decade, and what role will City National Bank play in bringing that vision to life?

We are already the market leader in South Florida, with the longest-standing presence and significant market share compared to our peers. Over the next decade, our vision is to expand that leadership position statewide.

Our goal is to become Florida’s market leader in banking. We’ll continue to innovate, grow, and deliver exceptional value to clients while maintaining the strong relationships and community focus that define us.

Through this expansion, we aim to strengthen our presence, support economic growth, and bring meaningful contributions to every market we serve.