Team Member Spotlight: Jeannine Cimino

Jeannine is our Regional President for our South-Central New Jersey Region.

What led you to pursue a career in banking? What has kept you interested in the industry? 

My decision to pursue a career in banking was shaped by a move from New York to New Jersey, which shifted my professional path from a Wall Street-centered career to community banking. Entering banking later in my career proved to be both rewarding and refreshing, offering a very different experience from my time on Wall Street. The pace, purpose, and focus on people and local impact made the transition especially meaningful.

What has kept me engaged in the banking industry is the strong emphasis on relationships and community involvement. Building long-term connections with clients and contributing to the communities we serve brings a level of fulfillment that goes beyond the work itself. Equally important are the colleagues I have the privilege of working with every day, whose collaboration, dedication, and shared commitment continue to make banking a dynamic and rewarding career.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role? And what is the #1 skill you use day-to-day in your role?

In my current role, my primary responsibility is to support my team and ensure they have the tools, resources, and guidance they need to be successful each day. This support can take many forms, from helping remove obstacles and completing tasks alongside them to simply listening and serving as a sounding board. I am also responsible for ensuring our clients are well served and receive everything they need from the bank, with a strong focus on maintaining high levels of satisfaction and trust.

In addition, I serve as a representative of the bank within the community. This includes providing leadership, actively networking, prospecting, and leveraging community involvement to bring in new business and develop relationships that support the bank’s growth.

The number one skill I use day-to-day is my ability to build, maintain, and grow relationships on a personal level. This skill has been central to my success throughout my career. Through active community involvement and taking on leadership roles in the community, I have developed a strong network of clients and centers of influence, which has consistently helped generate new relationships and opportunities for the bank.

What does positive leadership mean to you and how do you act as a leader in your role? 

Positive leadership, to me, means being present and supportive of the team in whatever capacity they need, whether that support is related to work responsibilities or personal challenges. It involves listening, encouraging, and motivating team members while also helping keep them focused and aligned with their goals.

In my role as a leader, I strive to provide flexibility and trust rather than micromanagement. I believe people perform best when they are empowered to manage responsibilities in a way that works for them while knowing they have consistent support. My team knows they can rely on me for guidance, advice, or involvement in any situation when needed. I aim to balance being approachable and supportive with being firm when necessary to ensure accountability and continued progress toward our objectives.

How do you deliver consistent and unwavering service? 

I approach my work with a consistent, unwavering service mindset that starts with active listening. Taking the time to truly listen allows me to fully understand the situation, the question being asked, or the problem that needs to be solved. After listening, I step back and evaluate the best course of action, ensuring the response or solution is thoughtful, effective, and aligned with what the customer actually needs.

Follow-up is another critical component of delivering consistent service. I make it a priority to check back in and confirm that the issue was fully resolved and that the outcome met the customer’s expectations. This reinforces trust and demonstrates accountability.

I also believe strongly in being proactive rather than reactive. By regularly reaching out, checking in, and anticipating potential issues before they arise, I can help ensure things continue moving in the right direction. Proactive engagement positions service as intentional and dependable, whereas reactive responses can place you on the defensive. Consistency, follow-through, and proactive communication are what allow me to deliver service that goes above and beyond.

What do you hope to accomplish in 2026? 

In 2026, I hope to continue providing unwavering support to both my team and my customers. A key focus will be remaining a visible and engaged representative of the bank within the community, strengthening existing relationships while building new ones through active involvement and outreach.

I also aim to grow new business and deepen current client relationships to help meet and surpass our goals for the year. This includes continuing to collaborate closely with partners across the bank to identify cross-sell opportunities and introduce additional products and services that add value to my customers. By combining strong relationships, teamwork, and community engagement, my goal is to contribute meaningfully to the bank’s overall success in 2026.

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