City National names COO, JPMorgan sells Lego version of new HQ

Published June 12, 2026 3:00 PM

Updated June 12, 2026 3:05 PM

1 Min Read

In this week's banking news roundup:

David Cameron will head City National Bank's newly unified COO group.
JPMorganChase is selling a limited-edition Lego version of its new headquarters at 270 Park Avenue.
Esquire Financial Holdings gets regulatory approval to complete its acquisition of Signature Bank, and more.

City National names executive to newly created COO role

City National Bank, the Los Angeles-based banking unit of Royal Bank of Canada, has appointed a longtime executive as chief operating officer.

David Cameron, who had been City National's head of consumer banking, will serve in the newly created position while continuing to report to President and CEO Howard Hammond, the bank said.

Cameron joined City National in 2005. He will lead what the $100 billion-asset bank described as a newly unified COO group that integrates operations, controls and change-management functions.

City National has been in turnaround mode since it recorded a string of large quarterly losses around the time of the 2023 regional banking crisis.

"David's appointment as COO marks a pivotal moment for City National Bank as we align our teams and capabilities to better serve our clients and achieve our growth ambitions," Hammond, who joined the bank in late 2023, said in a press release. —Kevin Wack

JPMorganChase’s headquarters, brick by Lego brick

Need a gift for the JPMorganChase banker in your life? The firm is now selling a limited-edition Lego version of its new headquarters, 270 Park Ave., in New York City. Once built, the miniaturized office tower rises 16.3 inches high and 6.5 inches wide, smaller than its real-life counterpart, a 60-story building that spans an entire city block in midtown Manhattan. A giant display model of the Lego set can be seen in the headquarters' gift shop, complete with tiny Lego trees on the plaza. The 1,903-piece set sells for $150 plus tax. Employees can join the waiting list to buy the kit, which is only available in person and at a rate of one per staffer, to those with JPMorganChase email addresses. — Chana R. Schoenberger

Esquire scores regulatory approval for M&A deal

Esquire Financial Holdings in New York has received regulatory approval and waivers to complete its previously announced acquisition of Signature Bank in Chicago.

The $348 million, all-stock deal received a thumbs-up from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the two companies said in a press release. The transaction, which will offer Esquire broader entry into the Windy City's large legal marketplace, also received a waiver of prior approval from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the banks said.

Esquire, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Jericho, New York, specializes in the litigation industry and small businesses. In addition, the $2.3 billion-asset bank has commercial and retail customers in the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

The privately held Signature, which is slightly smaller with $2 billion of assets, also does business in the litigation market, though to a smaller degree than Esquire.

The deal is still awaiting shareholder approval. —Allissa Kline

US Century Bank appoints new chief credit officer

U.S. Century Bank, a subsidiary of USCB Financial Holdings, named Sergio E. Garrido as its senior vice president and chief credit officer, effective July 6. Garrido succeeds William "Bill" Turner, who will retire on July 3 after a distinguished banking career spanning more than four decades.

Garrido, who has been with the Miami-headquartered bank for over 11 years, brings 15 years of commercial credit and credit risk management experience to his new role.

"Sergio's involvement over the past 11 years spans virtually every loan decision and strategic credit initiative," said Luis de la Aguilera, president and CEO of the bank in a June 1 press release. "Our board of directors and management team have full confidence in his ability to lead our credit organization."

This appointment reflects a carefully planned transition designed to ensure continuity of the bank's disciplined credit culture, while underscoring its commitment to developing talent from within the company. —Traci Parks

First Financial completes conversion of BankFinancial

First Financial Bank has completed the conversion of BankFinancial's operating systems and is now offering consumer banking, commercial banking, specialty banking and wealth management services in the Chicago area under the First Financial brand. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based First Financial has also committed $1 million to benefit organizations in the Chicagoland area now being served by the bank.

"BankFinancial clients who have transitioned to First Financial are learning more about our focus on creating opportunities for our clients and communities to thrive," said Archie Brown, president and CEO of First Financial Bank.

The conversion consolidated products, processes and operating systems from the two banks, and BankFinancial clients can continue banking through their local branches as they always have.

Clients also can take advantage of a wider range of solutions to meet their financial needs, including expanded mortgage lending, commercial banking, wealth management and specialty banking services. First Financial has been communicating with BankFinancial clients in recent weeks to help them through the conversion. —Traci Parks

JPMorgan hires Goldman banker for prepay energy bond deals

JPMorganChase's public finance department hired a Goldman Sachs banker to specialize in prepay energy deals, marking a major hire for the team as the firm ramps up its work in the sector.

May Xing joined as an executive director in the public finance infrastructure group, according to a spokesperson for JPMorgan. She will focus on continued expansion of JPMorgan's prepay business as well as other structured transactions, the spokesperson said.

"We are excited to have May join our team as she brings a wealth of experience and deep issuer, attorney and financial advisor relationships, particularly in the energy prepay space," Mike Carlson, head of the public finance infrastructure group at JPMorgan, said in an emailed statement.

Goldman is the biggest manager of prepaid energy deals in the muni market, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A spokesperson for the bank declined to comment.

JPMorgan is the third-biggest manager of such deals so far in 2026, the data shows. —Amanda Albright and Erin Hudson, Bloomberg News

JPMorgan hires Nomura’s international AI strategy chief

JPMorganChase is hiring Nomura Holdings' international head of artificial intelligence strategy, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Wall Street bank steps up recruitment of AI specialists to boost productivity.

Singapore-based Tahir Zafar, who joined the Japanese bank in late 2023, is expected to start around July after completing his gardening leave, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private details.

At JPMorgan, Zafar will be part of a regional team led by Deep Thomas, the bank's Asia-Pacific chief data and analytics officer, who himself moved from Nomura in August 2025 after a four-year stint, said the people.

Spokespeople for JPMorgan and Nomura declined to comment. Zafar didn't respond to a request for comment.

Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon told Bloomberg Television in an interview last month that the bank will likely hire more artificial intelligence specialists and fewer traditional bankers as the adoption of the technology accelerates. —Rthvika Suvarna, Bloomberg News