Appointment of a Seasoned Operations Leader to Drive the Next Phase of Growth
Customers Bank, the more than $24 billion-asset subsidiary of Customers Bancorp (NYSE: CUBI), has announced the appointment of Steve Wyremski as Chief Operating Officer, effective January 26, 2026, marking a significant leadership milestone as the institution continues to scale its operations, deepen its digital capabilities, and reinforce its position as one of the most innovative and consistently high-performing banks in the United States.
The appointment reflects Customers Bank’s strategic focus on strengthening operational discipline, advancing enterprise-wide transformation, and ensuring that growth is supported by resilient infrastructure, robust governance, and data-driven decision-making at every level of the organization. As COO, Wyremski will play a central role in aligning operational execution with the bank’s long-term strategic vision, ensuring that innovation, efficiency, and client-centricity move forward in tandem.
A Leadership Decision Anchored in Transformation and Scale
The elevation of Steve Wyremski to Chief Operating Officer underscores Customers Bank’s recognition that sustainable growth in today’s banking environment requires not only strong revenue generation and client acquisition, but also excellence in execution, risk management, and operational scalability. With regulatory scrutiny intensifying, technology evolving rapidly, and customer expectations reshaping traditional banking models, the role of COO has become increasingly critical.
Customers Bank’s leadership has emphasized that Wyremski’s combination of financial rigor, operational insight, and transformation experience uniquely positions him to guide the bank through its next chapter, as it continues to invest in digital innovation, expand national specialty banking verticals, and deliver differentiated value to both commercial and consumer clients.
Perspective from the CEO on Strategic Leadership Alignment
Commenting on the appointment, Sam Sidhu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bank, highlighted the strategic importance of Wyremski’s leadership, noting that his deep understanding of operational excellence and financial discipline, paired with a thoughtful and pragmatic approach to transformation, will be instrumental as the bank continues to scale responsibly.
Sidhu emphasized that Customers Bank is at a pivotal stage in its evolution, where disciplined execution must keep pace with ambitious growth objectives, and where leadership decisions are guided by a commitment to long-term value creation for clients, shareholders, and employees alike. The COO role, in this context, is seen not as a back-office function but as a core strategic driver of performance, innovation, and resilience.
More Than Two Decades of Financial and Operational Expertise
Steve Wyremski brings more than twenty years of experience in financial services, spanning senior leadership roles in banking, professional services, and large, complex financial institutions. His career has been defined by a consistent focus on strengthening financial controls, optimizing operational processes, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that improve transparency, efficiency, and strategic agility.
Over the course of his professional journey, Wyremski has worked at the intersection of finance, operations, data, and regulatory compliance, developing a holistic understanding of how modern banks must operate in order to remain competitive while meeting increasingly stringent supervisory expectations.
Early Career Foundations in Audit and Advisory Services
Wyremski’s professional foundation was shaped during nearly a decade at KPMG in New York City, where he most recently served as a Senior Manager in the firm’s banking audit practice. In this role, he worked closely with large and mid-sized financial institutions, gaining deep exposure to regulatory requirements, risk management frameworks, internal controls, and financial reporting standards. His time at KPMG provided him with a rigorous analytical framework and a disciplined approach to governance, both of which have informed his leadership style throughout his career.
The experience also allowed him to develop a broad perspective on industry best practices and emerging trends, equipping him to later lead complex transformation initiatives within operating banks.
Experience Across Global and Public Financial Institutions
Beyond his tenure at KPMG, Wyremski held finance roles at American International Group (AIG) and Veeco, where he further expanded his expertise in financial management, reporting, and operational oversight within large, globally active organizations. These roles exposed him to the complexities of managing financial operations at scale, navigating diverse regulatory environments, and aligning financial strategy with broader corporate objectives. This combination of public company experience and deep technical expertise has been a defining feature of Wyremski’s career, reinforcing his ability to balance precision with strategic flexibility.
Leadership as Chief Financial Officer at a Major Commercial Bank
Prior to joining Customers Bank, Wyremski served as Chief Financial Officer of a New York-based commercial bank with more than $100 billion in assets, where he oversaw enterprise-wide finance functions during a period of significant operational and regulatory complexity. As CFO, he was responsible for financial planning and analysis, accounting, regulatory reporting, capital management, and strategic initiatives that supported the bank’s growth and stability.
His role required close collaboration with executive leadership, regulators, and board members, further strengthening his ability to translate financial data into actionable insights and to support decision-making at the highest levels of the organization.
Transition to Customers Bank as a Strategic Advisor
In 2024, Wyremski joined Customers Bank as a strategic advisor, a role that allowed him to work closely with senior leadership on some of the institution’s most critical initiatives. During this period, he played a key role in accelerating the bank’s finance and data modernization efforts, helping to enhance reporting capabilities, improve data quality, and support a more integrated approach to enterprise management.
His contributions as an advisor provided Customers Bank’s leadership with firsthand insight into his collaborative leadership style, technical expertise, and ability to drive meaningful change, laying the groundwork for his subsequent appointment as Chief Operating Officer.
Expanding the Scope as Chief Operating Officer
As COO, Wyremski’s responsibilities will extend well beyond traditional operational oversight, encompassing a broad mandate that includes process optimization, technology enablement, data governance, and cross-functional coordination. His role will be central to ensuring that Customers Bank’s operating model can support continued growth across its diverse business lines, while maintaining the agility and entrepreneurial culture that have become hallmarks of the institution. By aligning operational infrastructure with strategic priorities, Wyremski is expected to help the bank enhance efficiency, reduce complexity, and improve the overall client experience.
Supporting Innovation Through Strong Operational Foundations
Customers Bank has built a reputation as a technology-forward institution, leveraging digital platforms and data-driven insights to deliver tailored solutions to its clients. Wyremski’s appointment reflects the bank’s understanding that innovation must be supported by strong operational foundations, including scalable systems, disciplined governance, and integrated data architecture. His experience leading modernization initiatives positions him to ensure that technology investments translate into tangible business outcomes, enabling the bank to innovate responsibly while maintaining robust controls and regulatory compliance.
Commitment to Regulatory Excellence and Risk Management
In today’s banking environment, operational leadership is inseparable from regulatory and risk management excellence. Wyremski’s background as a licensed certified public accountant with nearly two decades of experience, combined with his extensive work in audit and regulatory-facing roles, provides him with a deep understanding of the expectations placed on large, complex financial institutions. As COO, he will be instrumental in reinforcing Customers Bank’s commitment to sound risk management practices, transparent reporting, and proactive engagement with regulators, ensuring that growth is both sustainable and well-governed.
Academic Credentials and Professional Discipline
Wyremski holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Boston College, an academic foundation that has supported his technically rigorous and detail-oriented approach to leadership. His long-standing CPA licensure reflects a career-long commitment to professional standards, ethical conduct, and continuous learning. These attributes align closely with Customers Bank’s emphasis on accountability, integrity, and excellence across all aspects of its operations.
Wyremski’s Vision for the Road Ahead
Reflecting on his appointment, Wyremski described the opportunity as an exciting moment to join Customers Bank’s leadership team, highlighting the institution’s commitment to innovation, its entrepreneurial culture, and its focus on delivering meaningful value to clients. He emphasized his enthusiasm for contributing to the bank’s continued success, noting that Customers Bank’s combination of growth ambition and client-centric philosophy creates a unique platform for operational leadership that is both challenging and rewarding. His remarks signal a forward-looking approach centered on collaboration, execution, and long-term impact.
Customers Bancorp and Customers Bank: An Institutional Overview
Customers Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: CUBI) is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top-performing banking companies, with more than $24 billion in assets, placing it among the 80 largest bank holding companies in the United States. Through its primary subsidiary, Customers Bank, the organization serves a diverse base of commercial and consumer clients, offering a full suite of technology-enabled, tailored product experiences delivered through a distinctive Single Point of Contact service model. This approach emphasizes relationship-driven banking, combining personalized service with advanced digital capabilities to meet the evolving needs of clients across industries and geographies.
A Broad and Diversified Banking Platform
Customers Bank’s business model encompasses a wide range of traditional and specialized banking services, including commercial and industrial lending, commercial real estate financing, and residential and personal lending. In addition to these core offerings, the bank has developed strong national corporate banking capabilities serving clients in sectors such as fund finance, venture banking, healthcare, mortgage finance, and equipment finance. This diversified platform has enabled Customers Bank to generate consistent performance across economic cycles, while maintaining flexibility to pursue new opportunities aligned with its strategic strengths.
Recognition as a Top-Performing U.S. Bank
The bank’s performance has been recognized by multiple independent organizations, underscoring its effectiveness in combining growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Customers Bank has been named a Top 10 Performing Bank by American Banker for five consecutive years from 2021 through 2025, including achieving the number one ranking in 2024 among midsize banks with assets between $10 billion and $50 billion. These accolades reflect not only strong financial metrics but also disciplined execution and a consistent focus on operational excellence.
Industry Accolades and Customer Advocacy
Further reinforcing its standing in the industry, Customers Bank ranked No. 72 among the 100 largest publicly traded banks in the 2025 Forbes Best Banks list, a recognition that evaluates institutions based on growth, credit quality, profitability, and stock performance. Equally notable is the bank’s Net Promoter Score of 81, significantly exceeding the industry average of 41, highlighting exceptionally strong customer advocacy and satisfaction. This metric speaks to the effectiveness of the bank’s relationship-based service model and its ability to deliver positive, consistent experiences across channels.
Governance, Stability, and Community Commitment
As a member of the Federal Reserve System, with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Customers Bank operates within a strong regulatory framework designed to promote stability and protect depositors. The bank is an equal opportunity lender, reflecting its commitment to fair access and responsible banking practices. These foundational principles support Customers Bank’s broader mission to create long-term value for clients, communities, and shareholders, while maintaining the highest standards of governance and integrity.
Positioning for the Future with Strong Operational Leadership
The appointment of Steve Wyremski as Chief Operating Officer represents a strategic investment in Customers Bank’s future, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to pairing growth with disciplined execution. As the bank continues to expand its footprint, deepen its digital capabilities, and serve increasingly complex client needs, strong operational leadership will be essential. Wyremski’s experience, perspective, and proven ability to lead transformation initiatives position him to play a pivotal role in ensuring that Customers Bank remains agile, resilient, and well-prepared to navigate the evolving financial services landscape while continuing to deliver exceptional value to its clients and stakeholders.
