The basics:

• BankUnited opens new corporate office in Morristown‘s HQ Plaza
• Expansion targets growth in commercial, CRE banking services
• Office led by senior execs focused on Tri-State client base
• Supports $50M+ in recent retail real estate lending in New Jersey

Florida-based BankUnited Inc. is expanding its presence in the Tri-State Area with a new outpost in Morristown.

The financial institution from Miami Lakes announced the new corporate banking office May 12. Located within HQ Plaza’s East Tower at 38 Headquarters Plaza, BankUnited occupies space on the eighth floor.

The central spot in the Morris County seat will bolster services for existing regional clients and offer opportunities to build new relationships, according to the company. The office focuses on corporate and commercial banking along with commercial real estate lending.

Senior Vice President and Corporate Banking Lead Bob Murphy; Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Lead Charles Marchica; and Senior Vice President and CRE Lead Christopher “CJ” Csontas lead the BankUnited Morristown office.

Commenting on the new outpost, Chief Operating Officer Thomas Cornish said the institution is fully committed to the region.

“The New Jersey corporate banking office joins our Atlanta and Dallas offices, which serve the Southern U.S. region, in providing corporate customers with a comprehensive suite of wholesale products and services, including corporate and commercial lending, deposit services and treasury management solutions,” Cornish added.

Local lending

In its announcement, BankUnited cited the strong business infrastructure and economy in the Morristown region. Citing figures from the Morris County Economic Development Corp., the institution noted the county has a $50 billion annual gross regional product.

Newsweek named BankUnited No. 13 bank on its 2025 World’s Most Trustworthy Companies list. BankUnited Inc., the holding company of BankUnited NA, has total assets of $34.8 billion, as of March 31.

The office launch comes on the heels of a February announcement from the bank regarding local funding for KPR Centers.

BankUnited provided a $27.1 million loan toward the acquisition of Eagle Plaza, it said then. The 227,718-square-foot grocery-anchored retail center in Voorhees sold for $41.7 million. It also provided refinancing for Concordia Shopping Center totaling $22.8 million. Another grocery-anchored site, the Monroe retail strip comprises 135,090 square feet. KPR acquired that property in 2020 for $32 million. BankUnited’s Carly Berfas and Anthony McCoy arranged the deals.

Based in New York, KPR Centers has one additional Garden State property within its portfolio, The Shops at Bloomfield Station.

“As our lending partner on these deals, BankUnited worked diligently to support our strategic goals as we continue to acquire high-performing retail centers,” Daniel Katz, managing partner of KPR Centers, said at the time. “We look forward to a continued relationship with BankUnited as new opportunities present themselves.”