Steve Jerz

About Steve Jerz

As the Senior Vice President and Community Markets Area Lead for New York & New Jersey at M&T Bank, I steward the evolution of our community banking model at a pivotal moment—when the bank possesses the scale and capabilities of a $200Bn+ institution while maintaining the proximity, legacy, and trust of a true community bank. This unique position is our right to win. I bridge enterprise strategy with local execution, overseeing the performance of 10 regions and 170+ senior sales leaders to ensure a disciplined, market-driven operating model. Since 2022, this work has delivered measurable improvements, including +46% volunteerism,+8% brand consideration,+10% customer satisfaction, and +6% revenue growth.I began my career in Citi’s Analyst Development Program, progressing through operations, balance sheet performance management, and corporate banking relationship management roles. I then joined Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP as a management consultant, advising financial services clients on transformation, regulatory readiness, and risk management. In 2017, I moved to M&T’s Enterprise Transformation Office, where I led several of the bank’s most significant enterprise initiatives—including multimillion-dollar programs, regulatory remediations, operating model redesigns, and cross-functional teams of 200+ people.As both a transformational and servant leader, I prioritize clarity, culture, and collaboration while driving execution and outcomes. My PMP certification equips me to lead complex, high-stake initiatives, and I have a track record of developing high-performing leaders, achieving strong engagement scores, and delivering results through influence. I routinely engage with the Executive Leadership Team, represent the bank externally at executive and community forums, and provide candid coaching and inspiration to Regional Presidents, senior sales leaders, business line strategy partners, and capability teams— helping them elevate performance and ensure their work is grounded in market orientation.I hold an MBA from the Wehle School of Business at Canisius University, where I also earned my bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics. I am actively involved in the community, serving as a Board Member of the Greater Lockport Development Corporation (Treasurer) and as a Board Member of Neighborhood Health Center of WNY. I reside in Lockport, NY with my wife and three daughters.

Experience

1. Senior Vice President, Area Lead - New York & New Jersey Community Banking

   M&T Bank

   Oct 2022 — Present

   Architected and executed the newly created Area Lead role, building the operating model from the ground up and transforming ambiguity into impact. Mandated to preserve and enhance the community banking model as M&T grows beyond $200B in assets, the role has become a sustainable part of the Community Bank structure — strengthening accountability, support for Regional Presidents, and aligning enterprise resources with local needs.• Delivered measurable results across 10 regions, with average improvements of +46% volunteerism,+8% brand consideration,+10% customer satisfaction, and +6% revenue growth since 2022.• Serve as the bridge between enterprise strategy and local execution across 10 regions, co-developing and overseeing 10 roadmaps that guide 170+ senior leaders supporting colleagues. Partner with 9 Regional Presidents and enterprise teams to foster collaboration and drive market growth.• Leverage market intelligence data and regional KPIs to uncover opportunities and guide decision-making; routinely present insights to the Executive Leadership Team to strengthen enterprise market orientation and influence resource allocation toward high-potential local markets.• Represent M&T Bank externally at executive forums, community events, client engagements, and regional Director Advisory Councils, strengthening partnerships with community and business leaders.• Coach and advise Regional Presidents and local leadership teams, providing candid feedback that reinforces performance and behaviors critical to the community banking model. Contribute to performance reviews, succession planning, and the selection of Regional Presidents, ensuring a strong leadership pipeline.

Education

• Canisius University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Economics and Finance

• Canisius University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA