Faye T. Pantazelos is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of New Century Bank, a Chicago-based, full-service commercial bank with more than $465 million in assets. She also founded and currently serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of NCB Holdings, Inc., the parent company of New Century Bank. By providing comprehensive services with localized expertise and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, New Century Bank has grown tremendously under Pantazelos’ leadership and vision. New Century Bank has been a leader among financial institutions in the Chicago area since Pantazelos opened the bank’s doors in 1999.

In a competitive marketplace, Pantazelos’ leadership has propelled New Century Bank and its parent company NCB Holdings, Inc., to establish Kingsbury Capital — a full-service wealth management and investment banking firm that offers non-bank financial services. In keeping with the high standards exemplified by New Century Bank, Kingsbury Capital provides superior customer service to the investment community. Kingsbury Capital’s mission is to add value to businesses that are in the process of raising capital, and provide products for our investing client-partners, in an effort to create opportunities for equity expansion and higher returns while managing an acceptable risk-to-reward ratio.

Previously, Pantazelos was Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending at Chicago-based Corus Bank, N.A. For almost 20 years, Pantazelos worked at First Chicago Bank of Ravenswood and its predecessor Bank of Ravenswood, a $500 million community bank, where she rose through the ranks to become Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. Following its merger with The First National Bank of Chicago, Pantazelos served as Vice President of Commercial Lending with management responsibilities for commercial and residential real estate lending activities at its Ravenswood division and all branches located on Chicago’s North Side and Northern suburbs.

Highly regarded within Chicago’s banking and real estate development communities, Pantazelos is an expert in commercial real estate finance, including multifamily residential properties. She has extensive experience working on construction and term financing for hotels, industrial facilities, mixed use properties and retail projects, including community shopping centers, office buildings and land development. Pantazelos is a highly coveted expert with developers, builders and bankers that seek her advice on forecasting real estate trends, interest rates, the economy and the unique challenges women face in business.

During her 35-year career, she has originated, underwrote and managed in excess of $3 billion in commercial real estate loans. Serving as testimonial to Pantazelos’ real estate expertise and New Century Bank’s standing among other large Midwest financial institutions is the unique ability for New Century Bank to successfully originate, syndicate and serve as managing agent for a myriad credits of up to $200 million.

Pantazelos serves and volunteers for many civic and charitable organizations, including the President’s Council for the Museum of Science Industry and the University of Illinois at Chicago Liberal Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors, where she recently received the first-ever Donor of Distinction Award for her efforts. She has also been active as an officer and member of many Hellenic American civic and charitable organizations. Pantazelos is an active member in numerous builders and real estate organizations, including being a member of the prestigious Lincoln Park Builder’s Club, co-founder of the Edgewater Uptown Builders Association and member of the board of advisors on the Roosevelt University Chicago School of Real Estate. Pantazelos and the bank were also the first to sponsor DePaul University’s Real Estate Center. In addition, Pantazelos is active in many professional banking organizations such as the Illinois Bankers Association, the Banker’s Club and the American Bankers Association. She is also a member of the City Club of Chicago, Executive Club, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Club, the Economic Club and The Chicago Network.

Whether as panelist or lecturer, Pantazelos is a popular speaker. She has spoken at the University of Chicago Economic Development and Site Selection group; The DeNovo Banking Forum in Washington, D.C.; International Women’s Day Luncheon at the Union League Club (Keynote Speaker); the Women’s Business Development Center; the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce; the Association of Chicago Bank Women; the Lincoln Park Builder’s Club’s Real Estate Forum; the Real Estate Institute Association (REIA); the Chicago Real Estate Association’s Commercial Forum; the Chicago Architectural Club; the Hellenic Professional Society’ the Hellenic American Women’s Council; and the Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate panel.

Pantazelos is a six-time Crain’s Chicago Business Who’s Who (2002 – 2007) and has been inducted into Today’s Chicago Woman’s 20th Anniversary Hall of Fame — one of only 11 women so honored in the field of finance. Pantazelos has also bestowed the “Woman of Achievement” Award by the Anti-Defamation League.

A life-long Chicagoan, Pantazelos, 56, is a steward of St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Marc Pershan is Executive Vice President of New Century Bank, a Chicago-based, full-service commercial bank with more than $465 million in assets. Pershan is also organizer and member of the Board of Directors for NCB Holdings, Inc., the parent company of New Century Bank. As one of the original members of New Century Bank when it opened its doors in 1999, Pershan is responsible for all of the bank’s retail and private banking operations, including overseeing the bank’s three offices in the River North, Bucktown and Lincolnwood neighborhoods of Chicago. New Century Bank has been a leader among financial institutions in the Chicago area by providing comprehensive large-bank services with localized expertise and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

Pershan is also President of Kingsbury Capital, the new wholly-owned wealth management and investment banking subsidiary of NCB Holdings, Inc that offers non-bank financial services. As founding member, Pershan helped spearhead the start-up of this new firm that is now strategically located across from New Century Bank’s headquarters in River North. As President, Pershan directs the day-to-day operations of this firm that currently has more than $30 million in assets. Kingsbury Capital’s mission is to add value to businesses that are in the process of raising capital and provide products for investing clients, in an effort to create opportunities for equity expansion and higher returns while managing an acceptable risk-to-reward ratio.

With more than 23 years of financial services experience, Pershan previously co-founded and served as Managing Member of Krantz, Pershan Associates, a registered investment advisory firm that managed more than $60 million in assets. Prior to that, Pershan served as Regional Vice President of Citicorp Investment Services in its New York and Chicago offices, where he managed Citicorp’s retail investment program for the Chicago market.

An emerging speaker, Pershan is a knowledgeable expert on how financial services corporations can generate fee income for their lines of business; the keys to successfully marketing and selling financial services products and services; and the secrets to launching and growing financial services companies as shown by his firsthand experience of launching two companies in the very competitive Chicago market: New Century Bank in 1999 and Kingsbury Capital in 2007.

Pershan is currently a member of the Illinois Bankers Association and is a member of its Political Action Committee Board of Directors. He also is a member of the Board of Directors for Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and the National Council of Synagogue Youth. Pershan is a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking, a three-year banking executive management program developed and managed by the American Bankers Association (ABA). Since graduating, Pershan has remained very active in program, currently mentoring and advising up to two students annually.

Pershan holds a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) general securities principal license that qualifies him to manage a general-securities broker-dealer and supervise branch activities. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Classics from Harvard University and his MBA in Finance from New York University. Pershan lives in Skokie, Ill. He is an active cyclist, swimmer and runner. To date, he has participated in more than 15 marathons and triathlons.

Mr. Abney was Vice President of McHenry State Bank, where he managed the retail and operations division... served as Vice President and Retail/ Division Manager with Grand National Bank...was Senior Vice President/Cashier and Branch Manager with First Chicago... received a Bachelor of Science and MBA from Northern Illinois University. Mr. Abney obtained the designation of Certified Financial Planner in 1994.

Garland Smith brings over 30 years of commercial banking experience to New Century Bank. Having held various senior positions with The First National Banking of Chicago, First Chicago NBD, Bank One and LaSalle Bank, he has developed and managed banking relationships focusing primarily on family owned and closely-held companies. In this role, he has advised clients on various forms of debt financing. Apart from the corporate arena, he brings additional real estate and real estate restructuring expertise. Mr. Smith is a graduate of the University of Denver and serves on the Board of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago.

Tom Romano brings 30 years of banking and loan experience to New Century Bank. He spent the last 7 years as Executive Vice President of Bridgeview Bank Group where he was instrumental in growing that organization. Prior to Bridgeview, he spent 20 years as Executive Vice President of First of America Bank where he was responsible for the management of the bank's Northern Illinois lending functions and branch administration of 39 branch locations. He also focused on new business development, relationship management and assisted in the opening of new branches. Tom received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame and his MBA from DePaul. He serves as a director of Arlington hospitality, Vista National Insurance and Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships.

Tony Spears brings years of business banking and loan experience to New Century Bank. He spent 5 years as a Vice President/Relationship Manager with Citibank where he managed a loan portfolio of $15MM and 50 customers and developed owner operated businesses with gross sales volumes of $20MM or less. Prior to that, he served as Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer at Cole Taylor Bank where he managed a loan portfolio of over $15mm and 150 customers. Mr. Spears served as Assistant Vice President for the BankAmerica Commercial Corporation where his asset-based loan portfolio totaled $30MM. Mr. Spears graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor of science in accounting.

Lindsey Bouton has over 20 years experience in the banking and mortgage industry. Prior to joining New Century Bank, Ms. Bouton was Branch Manager for WestMark Mortgage Corporation where she began their Midwest retail origination division. Previously she was Vice President of Security Bank of DuPage where she implemented a secondary market mortgage origination department and handled all aspects of mortgage transactions. She also worked at Old Kent Bank where she was responsible for business development in the Business Banking Division. Ms. Bouton began her banking career with Gary-Wheaton Bank, subsequently First Chicago Bank, where she managed commercial account relationships totaling over $42 million. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Secondary Education from Coe College.

As a Vice President and Branch Manager at New Century Bank, Gene Khalimsky is responsible for the oversight of the Lincolnwood branch. Gene has more than 12 years of experience in the banking and mortgage industry. Prior to joining New Century Bank, Mr. Khalimsky was Private Banking Officer for LaSalle Bank/ ABN AMRO Group, Chicago IL where he help developed small business loan origination and managed $25 million in retail and small business lending. He began his career at Bank of America as a manager of commercial account relationships and later became an Assistant Branch Manager for TCF National Bank of Arlington Heights, IL, where he implemented home equity and secondary market mortgage origination division between 2 local branches. Mr. Khalimsky holds a Bachelors Degree of Science in Finance/International Business from Elmhurst College.

Yan Shkap brings over 15 years of commercial banking experience to New Century Bank. Prior to joining the Bank, Yan served as assistant vice president of the commercial mortgage group at GMAC. Additionally he served two years as a commercial loan officer with Amalgamated Bank of Chicago where he managed a portfolio exceeding $35 million consisting of real estate, asset-based and unsecured loans. Yan began his career at First Security Commercial Mortgage where he worked for two years as assistant vice president. He developed new business and managed existing accounts as a member of a nationwide commercial real estate lending team, which resulted in company origination volume exceeding $250 million per annum. Yan received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from DePaul University, a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University and is also a licensed real estate broker.