Ascendia Bank's new commercial lending and information security leaders join management to strengthen lending and technology.
Hawthorne, NJ, September 11, 2025
Ascendia Bank has appointed two senior executives to strengthen commercial lending and information security. Jonathan Jacobs will lead commercial lending, overseeing underwriting, construction loans, loan approvals and a team of lenders and analysts, drawing on more than 20 years of industry experience. Paul Skinner joins as senior vice president and chief information security officer to manage IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, system integrations and disaster recovery, bringing over four decades of technology leadership. These hires support the bank’s regional expansion, align credit growth with secure systems and complement ongoing leadership succession and digital banking investments.
Ascendia Bank, based in Glen Rock, New Jersey, has added two senior executives to its leadership team to strengthen commercial lending and information security functions. The hires are Jonathan Jacobs, who joins as vice president and commercial lending manager, and Paul Skinner, who takes on the role of senior vice president and chief information security officer.
Jacobs will oversee the bank’s commercial lending operations, including underwriting and evaluation of commercial real estate loan requests, preparation of loan approval memos, ongoing credit relationship support, and the management of construction loans. He will lead a team of commercial loan administrators, credit analysts, and loan processors.
Skinner will be responsible for the bank’s information systems and technology infrastructure, covering system design and programming, network and database administration, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery planning. His remit includes development and implementation of IT and information security policies to keep systems secure and reliable for both operations and customers.
Jonathan Jacobs brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial lending and credit analysis. His prior roles include managing loan portfolios exceeding $90 million while serving as assistant vice president portfolio manager at Lakeland Bank / Provident Bank, and positions as a commercial lender and account manager at a regional credit union. Earlier stops in his career include progressively senior roles at several New Jersey community banks. Jacobs holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Morgan State University.
Paul Skinner has over four decades of IT and operations leadership experience in banking. His resume includes leading core banking system conversions, technology infrastructure upgrades, launches of digital and mobile banking platforms, complex integrations, cybersecurity enhancements, and disaster recovery program development. Skinner’s background centers on improving operational efficiency while maintaining regulatory and security compliance.
Ascendia Bank’s leadership change is presented as part of continued investment in both commercial banking capabilities and technology. The hires are positioned to support growth in commercial real estate and construction lending while strengthening technology platforms and cybersecurity defenses that underpin modern customer services such as online and mobile banking.
The bank rebranded from its previous name in 2021 to reflect a broader regional focus and to present a fresher brand image. The rebrand was not associated with a change in ownership or a wholesale personnel shift. The institution traces its origins to 1922, when it was established as The Building and Loan Association of Ridgewood, and adopted the Glen Rock Savings Bank name in 1937. Later developments included construction of an administrative headquarters in Hawthorne in 2001 and an acquisition of another local savings bank in 2015.
Publicly reported figures and filings show variations in branch counts and total assets depending on reporting dates. At different points the bank has been described as operating four or five full-service branches in New Jersey and managing combined assets reported at figures around $260 million in earlier material and about $394 million as of March 31, 2025. The institution offers personal and business banking services, mobile and online banking tools, mortgage and home equity products, and commercial mortgage lending for multifamily and mixed-use properties.
The bank’s executive leadership includes a president and chief executive officer who is leading a multi-year effort to expand the bank’s footprint, products, and technology. The transition plans in recent years have included succession steps among senior executives and continuing board-level oversight as the bank expands services and modernizes systems.
The commercial lending hire is likely to improve the bank’s capacity to underwrite and manage commercial real estate and construction loans and to provide hands-on credit support to business customers. The technology and security hire aims to strengthen digital banking platforms, cyber defenses, and business continuity planning—areas that affect both customer experience and operational resilience.
Jonathan Jacobs joined as vice president and commercial lending manager. Paul Skinner joined as senior vice president and chief information security officer.
Jacobs will lead commercial lending operations, underwriting, loan approval documentation, and management of construction loans. Skinner will oversee IT, systems design, network and database management, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery planning.
Jacobs has more than 20 years in commercial lending and credit analysis. Skinner has over 40 years of IT and operations experience in banking, including system conversions and digital platform launches.
The bank rebranded in 2021 to reflect a regional expansion while keeping existing ownership and personnel. It traces its origins to 1922, and in recent years has invested in branches, technology, and expanded product offerings including online and mobile banking.
More details about services and leadership are available on the bank’s website at www.AscendiaBank.com.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New commercial lending leader | Jonathan Jacobs — VP / Commercial Lending Manager; 20+ years in commercial lending; experience managing large loan portfolios |
| New IT/security leader | Paul Skinner — SVP / Chief Information Security Officer; 40+ years in banking IT; led system conversions and digital launches |
| Bank background | Rebranded in 2021; founded 1922; headquarters and branch footprint in New Jersey |
| Products and services | Personal and business banking, mortgages, home equity, online and mobile banking, commercial lending |
| Website | www.AscendiaBank.com |
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