BayFirst National Bank Welcomes Adam Curtis as Senior Vice President, Pinellas Market Executive

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As it continues its Tampa Bay area expansion and development into the premier community bank in the region, St. Pete-based BayFirst National Bank – the wholly-owned subsidiary of BayFirst Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: BAFN) – has hired local banking veteran Adam Curtis as senior vice president, market executive for Pinellas County, which is currently home to five BayFirst banking centers.

Prior to joining BayFirst, Adam served as executive vice president and senior lender for Freedom Bank, a competitor community bank based in St. Petersburg, which was acquired by Seacoast Bank in 2020. There he supervised bank-wide lending sales initiatives and portfolio management, while also managing and developing his own commercial loan portfolio in excess of $120 million. Prior to Freedom Bank, he served as vice president at other top regional community banks, including Hancock Bank, Regions and Sun Trust.

An industry leader with more than 20 years of experience, Adam brings not only expertise in commercial banking management but also proven success in the Tampa Bay market and in the community banking space. In his new role with BayFirst, Adam will direct the strategic execution of BayFirst’s commercial and personal loan production in Pinellas County to maximize profitability. He will be responsible for staff management, driving new business deposits and loan relationships, and the development of bank products and services in the market being served by the bank’s Belleair Bluffs, St. Petersburg, Seminole, Pinellas Park and Clearwater locations.

“Adam brings with him decades of community banking experience and incomparable first-hand knowledge of the Tampa Bay market, which both will prove vital as he takes the reins in the county where our bank has the largest presence,” said BayFirst EVP, Chief Banking Officer Matt Luckey. “I am confident that he will play a crucial role in the advancement of BayFirst’s overall strategic initiatives, and I look forward to seeing his direct impact on the communities of Pinellas County and on our bank as an organization.”

Adam holds a Bachelor of Science in international business from Florida State University. He is also a graduate of the University of Florida’s Florida School of Banking and Louisiana State University’s Graduate School of Banking. He is a past honorary commander, maintenance squadron of MacDill Air Force Base’s 927^th Air Refueling Wing and has served on the Board of Directors at Community Action Stops Abuse. Adam currently serves on the Board of Directors for Remember Honor Support and Menorah Life, both St. Petersburg non-profits.

Anthony N. Leo, chief executive officer of BayFirst said, “We are delighted to welcome Adam Curtis to BayFirst. As a proven industry leader, Adam represents BayFirst’s ongoing efforts to expand its community banking franchise and commercial lending capabilities. Adam’s experience and community standing will play a critical role in our mission to become the premier community bank of Tampa Bay.”

About BayFirst National Bank
Headquartered in St. Petersburg, BayFirst National Bank, the principal subsidiary of BayFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BAFN), operates eight banking centers in the Tampa Bay area and originates residential mortgages locally. In addition, BayFirst offers a broad range of retail and business banking services, including small business loans through its SBA loan division, CreditBench, and is one of the top producing SBA lenders in the country. Since it opened in 1999, BayFirst has grown exponentially without losing sight of its commitment to making an impact in the community and being Here for What’s Next® in the lives of its customers. For more information visit: www.BayFirstFinancial.com.

About BayFirst Financial Corp.
BayFirst Financial Corp. is a registered bank holding company which commenced operations on September 1, 2000. Its primary source of income is from its wholly owned subsidiary, BayFirst National Bank (f/k/a First Home Bank), which commenced business operations on February 12, 1999. BayFirst National Bank is a national banking association. The Bank currently operates eight full-service office locations and was in the top 8 by dollar volume and number of units originated nationwide through the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2022, of SBA's 2022 fiscal year. In the five-county Tampa Bay market, BayFirst was proud to rank number one by both dollar volume and number of units originated during the same period.

BayFirst Financial Corp., through the Bank, offers a broad range of commercial and consumer banking services including various types of deposit accounts and loans for businesses and individuals. As of September 30, 2022, BayFirst Financial Corp. had $930.3 million in total assets.

Forward Looking Statements
In addition to the historical information contained herein, this presentation includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, global military hostilities, or climate change, including their effects on the economic environment, our customers and our operations, as well as any changes to federal, state or local government laws, regulations or orders in connection with them; the ability of the Company to implement its strategy and expand its banking operations; changes in interest rates and other general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in business plans as circumstances warrant; risks related to mergers and acquisitions; changes in benchmark interest rates used to price loans and deposits, changes in tax laws, regulations and guidance; and other risks detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with the SEC, including, but not limited to those “Risk Factors” described in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Readers should note that the forward-looking statements included herein are not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements.

Media Contact:

Megan Brewster
AVP, PR at BayFirst
(617) 285-0771
Megan.Brewster@BayFirstFinancial.com