Financial Services >> Analyst Interviews >> February 23, 2004
Anthony S. Abbate is President and Chief Executive Officer of
Interchange Bank and Interchange Financial Services Corporation (Nasdaq:
IFCJ), parent company of the bank, which is headquartered in Saddle
Brook, New Jersey. Since joining the bank in 1980 and becoming President
in 1981, he has led the Bank's asset growth from $77 million to a $1.3
billion company and has expanded the bank's service area to include 29
branches in 26 Bergen County towns. At Interchange Bank, Mr. Abbate has
developed a work atmosphere rarely found at other financial
institutions. He believes in promoting from within, with many of his key
executives being long-time employees with more than 15 years at the
'bank.' He empowers his employees to do whatever is necessary and proper
to guarantee the highest level of customer satisfaction. Interchange
Bank's corporate philosophy has instilled each employee with the
confidence and purpose to fulfill customers' needs and, consequently,
the bank remains at the forefront of community banking in Bergen County.
Mr. Abbate has a widespread reputation as a champion of community
banking philosophies. He has provided testimony before the House Banking
Sub-Committee and the New Jersey Assembly and Senate Banking Committees.
He has also authored a number of articles on the vitality of community
banking and has lectured extensively on this topic. In addition, he has
often been asked to address issues of banking and finance on such radio
stations as WABC, WEVD and WOR, and television networks CNN and CNBC. He
has appeared on The Bloomberg Forum and Bloomberg Small Business
programs, Cablevision's News 12 New Jersey, and was a frequent guest on
the Bill Bresnan Show, a popular financial talk program. A sought-after
speaker, Mr. Abbate has addressed numerous national trade groups and has
conducted seminars throughout the country on a variety of banking
topics. He is often called upon by banking publications, particularly
the American Banker, for quotes and commentary on various banking
issues. In 1993 and 1996, he received the Bronze CEO Award from
Financial World Magazine, and was honored in 1998 as one of the
recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He currently serves as
the New Jersey State Director for the Independent Community Bankers
Association and serves as a Director of the for-profit subsidiary, ICBA
Services Network and its subsidiary, ICBA Financial Services Corp. He is
also a member of the Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve
Board. Profile
Services Corporation?
Mr. Abbate: Interchange Financial Services is a one-bank holding company
whose principal subsidiary is
