Commerce National Bank & Trust could be considered a second generation bank. When Guy Colado, President and CEO of Commerce National Bank & Trust, started his banking career in the late 1960's all financial institutions in Florida were community banks. The inception of inter-state banking and state wide branching brought changes.
Colado, a native of Winter Park, realized a climb up the corporate ladder could
potentially involve two changes he was unwilling to make. First was the possibility
of relocation and second was the likelihood of less customer contact. His commitment
to community banking and to his hometown of Winter Park led to the formation of
the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) in 1986. The main office and three branches
served Central Floridians until 2000 when it was acquired by Wachovia.
Ray Colado, representing the second generation, had joined National Bank of
Commerce and continued with Wachovia following the sale. Subsequent to the merger
of Wachovia and First Union it was decided all the National Bank of Commerce
offices would be closed. At the urging of Ray, investors were sought and in 2002
an application for a national bank charter was submitted to the Comptroller of
the Currency for a Sub-chapter "S" National Bank. Commerce National Bank of
Florida opened in February of 2003 at 1201 South Orlando Avenue in the same
office that housed the first community bank Colado had organized in 1986.
Customers were welcomed by many familiar faces that had been part of the former
NBC staff.
On January 1, 2006 the bank was granted trust powers resulting in a name
change to Commerce National Bank & Trust. The following month, February 2006,
CNB&T Insurance Services LLC was opened. Affiliated with Combs Insurance
Agency, the insurance subsidiary offers a full range of insurance coverage.
Effective January 1, 2008 the board of directors of Commerce National Bank &
Trust named Ray D. Colado President. Colado, a 1993 graduate of Furman University,
began his banking career as a trainee at the National Bank of Commerce in 1998.
He became a loan officer and when the bank sold he remained with Wachovia through
their merger with First Union. As a result of his banking experiences, he developed
a preference for community banking and was instrumental in chartering the current
bank. He has served as a director of CNB&T since it opened in 2003 and now,
as President, will have the responsibility for overseeing the day to day operation
of the bank. Guy Colado continues as CEO and Chairman of the Board.
The expertise of the first generation in conjunction with the energy and forward
thinking of the second generation provides Commerce National Bank & Trust the
ingredients necessary to carry on the community bank tradition of exemplary attention
to meeting customers' needs while providing innovative banking products and services.