Signature Bank names Kratsberg and Shulevich to head new banking team

Signature Bank, a New York-based full-service commercial bank, has added a new private client banking team. This marks 10 teams now dedicated to serving the growing Brooklyn marketplace. Leon Kratsberg and Gary Shulevich were each named senior VP and group director while Deborah Raffone was appointed senior client associate. Kratsberg and Shulevich, who have worked together for eight years, will serve the entire Brooklyn marketplace from the bank's office at 84 Broadway in Williamsburg. As the bank further expands efforts across the borough, the team will be relocating to another private client banking office in the area. The team joins from the HSBC branch near Bensonhurst at 6702 Bay Pwy. Most recently, Kratsberg, with a decade of banking experience, was a senior relationship manager and VP, serving large commercial clients throughout the borough and Staten Island. Prior, he was a business relationship manager at JP Morgan Chase. Shulevich brings 11 years of banking experience to his new role, all spent with his former employer. Previously, he was a relationship manager and VP where he managed one of the largest deposit portfolios within that market. Raffone's 21-year banking career was primarily spent serving as assistant branch manager at various HSBC branches in the borough and Staten Island, providing business support to relationship managers in both these geographic areas. "The appointment of Leon, Gary and Debbie marks the seventh team we've added in the first half of the year and the 10th private client banking team we now have based in Brooklyn, serving this growing marketplace. Leon and Gary will cater to clients throughout Brooklyn as well as Staten Island, since during the past decade, they have focused on forging relationships throughout both areas," noted President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph J. DePaolo. "With the recent commercial and residential boom and changing landscape throughout many parts of Brooklyn, we are continuing to expand our presence in this vibrant marketplace. Our three established offices, along with another set to open soon, will extend our single-point-of-contact approach to additional clients throughout the borough. We welcome the team to the Bank, and look forward to furthering our presence in this area," DePaolo said. Kratsberg and Shulevich commented on joining the Bank, stating: "Signature Bank has built a solid reputation in the metro-New York commercial banking arena amongst both bankers and clients alike. The Bank has become known for its distinctive service model, which leads to long-standing client relationships. We were attracted to Signature Bank because we wanted to be part of its client-centric environment, offering an experience that is second to none."