Minnesota's B2 Bank has appointed three senior executives to lead its next phase of strategic growth. The bank announced the appointments of Ryan Jaskiewicz as chief executive officer, Chris Cucci as president, and Chris Van Buskirk as chief credit and risk officer—all hailing from Florida's Climate First Bank. Jaskiewicz succeeds Randy Peterson, who retired as CEO in March, as the bank expands from its community banking roots into a nationwide digital banking presence in partnership with M1 Finance.
PETERSON'S LEGACY
Randy Peterson, B2 Bank's chief executive, retired in March. The bank, known until 2022 as the First National Bank of Buhl, was bought in 2021 by Brian Barnes, founder and CEO of M1 Finance.
B2 has more than doubled its assets and deposits since Barnes bought it. The bank manages $71.8 million in assets and provides a range of personal and business banking services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, and credit cards.
JASKIEWICZ STEERS THE SHIP
Most recently president of structured finance at Climate First Bank, Jaskiewicz brings nearly two decades of experience in commercial finance and executive leadership. His resume includes a 17-year stint as founder and CEO of 12five Capital, a commercial finance firm that was acquired by Breakout Capital in 2023.
At Climate First, he was a key contributor to the bank's growth from $725 million to more than $1.4 billion in assets, according to B2.
CUCCI AND VAN BUSKIRK
Complementing Jaskiewicz, Chris Cucci steps in as president with a pedigree from JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and SouthState Bank. He was most recently chief strategy officer at Climate First and has built revenue-producing lending verticals in commercial real estate, ESOP finance and renewable energy project finance.
Chris Van Buskirk rounds out the trio as chief credit and risk officer, drawing from his time as chief credit officer at Climate First. Van Buskirk has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience, from Citigroup to Climate First, and was a founding member of Florida Choice Bank and First Green Bank, both of which were later acquired.
M1 FINANCE SYNERGY
Barnes has been working to modernise the bank by investing in technology and establishing the business as a Banking-as-a-Service provider, with M1 as its first customer. Despite its digital ambitions, B2 Bank continues to serve as a financial hub for the local community in Minnesota, operating two branches.
A company statement captured the moment: "This leadership announcement reflects a pivotal moment in the bank's evolution as B2 Bank enters a new era in partnership with M1 Finance, expanding its reach from its community banking roots into a growing nationwide digital banking presence."
STRATEGIC EXPANSION OUTLOOK
B2 says it is expanding its commercial lending platform, strengthening relationships with traditional clients and delivering modern banking infrastructure to digital banking clients.
"We have the regulatory foundation, the infrastructure, and now the leadership team to build something significant," Jaskiewicz said.
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