Citybiz interview with Robert Kunisch, President and COO at Howard Bank

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Rob kunisch is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Howard Bank and member of their board of directors. He spent his entire banking career in Maryland, starting in 1990 with Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Company and, later, its acquirer, PNC Bank. In 2008, Rob joined Wilmington Trust FSB as Director of Commercial Banking Services and was subsequently promoted to President of Wilmington Trust, FSB – Maryland, and took on the additional responsibilities of Wealth Management in Maryland. When M&T Bancorp acquired the bank in 2011, he chose to pursue his desire to work in a community bank as a consultant to the board of directors of 1er Mariner Bancorp. In 2014, he assembled a team of investors to raise $ 110 million which was used to take control of 1st Mariner Bank of which he later became CEO. Four years later, he negotiated a deal to merge with Howard Bank in March 2018, which would position him as chairman of the largest bank headquartered in Baltimore. In 2020, he was promoted to Deputy CEO.

Rob was in the past president of the Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy and a member of the board of directors of various entities related to Catholic charities. His past community involvement includes United Way and the Independent College Fund. He is currently a director at Stevenson University and director of the Maryland Bankers Association. Additionally, Rob was named one of Maryland Daily Record’s influential Marylanders in 2020.

Interview questions:

Career | Can you outline your banking career starting a mercantile deposit and trust company, your involvement with 1st Mariner Bancorp, and your promotion to president of Howard Bancorp last year?

Howard Bank Today | Please provide an overview of Howard Bank in terms of capital, loan portfolio, employees and footprint?

PPP loans | Howard Bank was a major lender during the first two rounds of PPP loans. How many loans and what was the value of those loans? How did your team manage PPP to help small and medium businesses?

Impact of Covid | Covid has impacted operations in almost every industry. How has this impacted the way Howard Bank serves businesses and individuals?

FinTech | Are fintech strategies and relationships implemented?

Impact | As a community bank, Howard Bank has made a huge impact here in the Greater Baltimore. How does the head office here support your goals to create a positive impact?

New stimulus | With the new stimulus for small businesses now open, how is Howard Bank helping businesses?

Connect with Robert on Linkedin

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