Ascendia Bank's new commercial lending and information security leaders join management to strengthen lending and technology.
Hawthorne, NJ, September 11, 2025
Ascendia Bank has appointed two senior executives to strengthen commercial lending and information security. Jonathan Jacobs will lead commercial lending, overseeing underwriting, construction loans, loan approvals and a team of lenders and analysts, drawing on more than 20 years of industry experience. Paul Skinner joins as senior vice president and chief information security officer to manage IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, system integrations and disaster recovery, bringing over four decades of technology leadership. These hires support the bank’s regional expansion, align credit growth with secure systems and complement ongoing leadership succession and digital banking investments.
Ascendia Bank has added two seasoned executives to its leadership team as it continues to expand commercial lending services and modernize technology systems. The bank named Jonathan Jacobs as vice president / commercial lending manager and appointed Paul Skinner as senior vice president / chief information security officer (SVP/CISO). Both executives will report into the bank’s senior management and take direct responsibility for their respective areas.
Jonathan Jacobs will oversee the bank’s commercial lending operations, taking charge of underwriting and evaluating commercial real estate applications, preparing loan approval memoranda, and managing ongoing commercial credit relationships. A key part of his role will be oversight of construction loans and related portfolio work. Jacobs will lead a team that includes Commercial Loan Administrators, Commercial Credit Analysts, and Commercial Loan Processors.
Jacobs brings more than 20 years of commercial lending and credit analysis experience. His background includes time as assistant vice president portfolio manager responsible for loan portfolios exceeding $90 million at Lakeland Bank / Provident Bank, and prior roles as a commercial lender and account manager at a regional credit union. Earlier positions at several community and regional banks gave him a range of experience across credit, portfolio management, and commercial real estate lending. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Paul Skinner will manage Ascendia Bank’s information systems, technology infrastructure, and data processing operations. His responsibilities include development and implementation of IT and information security policies, system design and programming oversight, network and database management, and strengthening cybersecurity defenses. He will also guide disaster recovery planning and compliance efforts tied to technology operations.
Skinner brings more than four decades of IT and operations leadership in the banking industry. His career includes leading core banking system conversions, technology infrastructure upgrades, launches of digital and mobile platforms, complex system integrations, and enhancements to cybersecurity protocols. He has led teams through large operational and technical projects designed to raise efficiency while meeting strict regulatory and security standards.
Ascendia’s chief executive and president identified the hires as strengthening the bank’s commercial lending capabilities and technology foundation. The new appointments align with the bank’s effort to expand commercial real estate lending and to support customer-facing digital tools with stronger security and more reliable systems.
The institution rebranded to Ascendia Bank after operating for decades under its prior name. The new name is derived from the word ascent and was adopted to reflect a broader regional reach and a more forward-leaning brand image. The rebrand did not involve a change in ownership and was announced as not affecting bank personnel. The move came as the bank approached its 100th anniversary, having been founded in 1922 as a local building and loan association and later taking its former name in 1937.
Over time the bank has expanded operations, building an administrative headquarters in Hawthorne in 2001 and acquiring a small savings bank in 2015. Public disclosures and company statements list a growing set of digital services that accompanied the rebrand, including internet banking, online bill pay, and a mobile banking application, as well as expanded commercial real estate lending.
Reported figures about branch count and assets vary depending on the reporting date. At one point the bank was described as operating four branch offices in the region with combined assets reported at just over $260 million. More recent information listed five full-service branches and total assets of approximately $394 million as of March 31, 2025, with about 36 full-time employees. These differences reflect updates over time as the bank has continued to grow and report new results.
Ascendia Bank’s public website provides current information about products and local branch locations at www.AscendiaBank.com.
Bringing a commercial lending leader and an experienced technology and security officer on board supports two linked priorities for a community-oriented bank: expanding loan products for businesses and real estate, and protecting those services with modern, secure IT systems. The combined hires aim to strengthen credit underwriting, loan servicing and construction loan management while improving resilience and compliance in technology operations.
Jonathan Jacobs joins as vice president / commercial lending manager. Paul Skinner joins as senior vice president / chief information security officer.
Jacobs will manage commercial lending, underwriting, credit relationships and a loan operations team. Skinner will oversee information systems, cybersecurity, network and database management, and disaster recovery planning.
The rebrand to Ascendia Bank was presented as a corporate identity change and was not tied to ownership changes. It was stated that personnel remained in place through the rebrand process.
Recent reports show varying figures over time. Earlier figures cited more than $260 million in assets and four branches. More recent data listed about $394 million in assets, five full-service branches, and 36 full-time employees as of March 31, 2025.
Customers can visit the bank’s website at www.AscendiaBank.com for up-to-date product, branch and contact information.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New hires | Jonathan Jacobs (VP/Commercial Lending Manager); Paul Skinner (SVP/CISO) |
| Jacobs background | 20+ years in commercial lending; managed >$90M loan portfolios; B.S. in Finance |
| Skinner background | 40+ years in banking IT and operations; led core conversions, infrastructure upgrades, digital launches, cybersecurity |
| Bank rebrand | Formerly known under earlier name; rebranded to Ascendia Bank to reflect broader regional reach; no ownership change |
| Assets & branches | Reported figures vary: earlier >$260M and four branches; later ~ $394M and five branches (data as of March 31, 2025) |
| Website | www.AscendiaBank.com |
, September 11, 2025 News Summary A developer secured a $320 million construction loan to build…
Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy, September 11, 2025 News Summary South Tyrol's provincial government has approved updated…
United States, September 11, 2025 News Summary Used construction equipment is steadily disappearing from dealer lots…
Louisiana, September 11, 2025 News Summary Lone Wolf Roofing, a roofing company in Louisiana, is prepared…
Victoria, September 11, 2025 News Summary The City of Victoria has issued 16 building permits this…
Olinville, The Bronx, September 11, 2025 News Summary Permits have been filed for the construction of…