Larchmont Top Exec Named American Bankers Association Chair

LARCHMONT, NY — A Larchmont banking executive will once again be helping to set the pace of the economy far beyond the decisions he makes in the boardroom.

Webster Financial Corporation President and CEO John Ciulla has been appointed chair of the American Bankers Association (ABA) American Bankers Council for 2022-23. Early last month, he was elected to a three-year term on the ABA board of directors during the association’s annual meeting Oct. 2-4 in Austin, Texas.

The American Bankers Council (ABC) is ABA’s banker-driven peer group for midsize bank chief executives. The council provides feedback and direction to ABA on key regulatory and legislative issues critical to midsize banks.

Ciulla, one of six new board members, joins ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols and the association’s 15 current board members.

"I am honored to chair the ABC group and represent Webster as a board member for the ABA, whose commitment to its member institutions reflects a set of values that align closely with ours," Ciulla said. "I look forward to working with my fellow midsize bank CEOs to identify the major policy issues and opportunities facing us in the year ahead. Banks of all sizes are essential to our country’s economy, and our efforts will help ensure that we have a policy environment that will allow ABC members and the industry to meet the needs of our customers and communities going forward."

Ciulla joined Webster in 2004 as senior vice president for Middle Market Banking and has held several executive management positions with increasing responsibility, including chief credit risk officer from 2008 to 2010. He became Webster CEO in 2018 and was elected chairman in January 2020. He served as Webster’s chairman, president and CEO until the bank’s merger with Sterling National Bancorp.

Ciulla serves on the Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America’s executive committee, and most recently served on the Federal Reserve System’s Federal Advisory Council as a representative for Boston-First District. He also serves on the board of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association

"We appreciate John’s willingness to represent midsize banks from across the country while also providing his perspective and leadership on ABA’s Board of Directors," Nichols said. "John’s tremendous banking knowledge and experience make him an ideal choice to represent this critically important industry segment."