OceanFirst Bank N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of OceanFirst Financial Corp., has appointed two veteran commercial banking executives to its senior leadership team to accelerate commercial growth across its Northeast and Mid-Atlantic footprint.
Andrew “Andy” Bregenzer has been appointed President of Commercial Banking, while Eric R. Howell has been named President of Premier Banking. Both executives will report to Joseph J. Lebel III, President and Chief Operating Officer of the $23.4 billion institution.
Senior executive leadership appointments
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Andrew Bregenzer (President of Commercial Banking): Brings over 30 years of commercial, business, and retail banking experience. He previously served as Co-Head of U.S. Commercial Banking at TD Bank, overseeing approximately 1,500 employees across 15 states, and formerly served as Regional President for Metro New York. At OceanFirst, Bregenzer will oversee commercial lending, treasury management, escrow services, and wealth management.
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Eric R. Howell (President of Premier Banking): Brings more than 30 years of executive experience in commercial banking, finance, and capital markets. Howell previously served as Senior Executive Advisor to OceanFirst—helping establish the Premier Bank division, which has surpassed $650 million in deposits. He previously spent over two decades at Signature Bank, serving as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer during its growth from a startup to over $100 billion in assets.
Bregenzer succeeds Susanne Svizeny, Chief Commercial and Industrial Banking Officer, who is retiring after seven years with OceanFirst and a 45-year career in commercial banking. Svizeny will work alongside Bregenzer over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.
“We welcome two of the region’s most respected commercial bankers as we strengthen our commercial banking platform and build on OceanFirst’s momentum,” Christopher Maher, Chief Executive Officer of OceanFirst, said. “Andy brings deep experience expanding commercial banking at scale, while Eric has helped to quickly build the Premier Bank into a strong source of new clients and deposits.”
“OceanFirst has a 124-year history of serving its communities, a client-centered culture and a clear strategy to deepen relationships,” Bregenzer said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Joe, Chris, and the entire OceanFirst team to build on this momentum.”
OceanFirst Bank N.A., founded in 1902, operates as one of the largest community-based financial institutions headquartered in New Jersey, delivering commercial and residential financing, treasury management, trust, and deposit services across New Jersey, New York, Long Island, and major metropolitan areas from Massachusetts through Virginia.
