Bank of Nevada, First Independent Bank CEO John Guedry Announces Retirement, Effective Dec. 31

PHOENIX – John Guedry, who has served as chief executive officer for Bank of Nevada and First Independent Bank for more than a decade, has announced he will retire from his role on Dec. 31.

To ensure a smooth leadership transition at its Nevada division,Western Santander Bank, parent company of Bank of Nevada and First Independent Bank, has hired Robert Cerminaro, a 25-year veteran of the banking industry, as the new CEO, effective Jan. 1. 

Cerminaro will join the company on Sept. 26, working alongside Guedry over the next few months to facilitate the leadership transition for customers and colleagues.
 
During his successful tenure, Guedry established the bank as the lender of choice for businesses across Nevada, including securing the high-profile commercial banking and educational partnership with the Raiders and Allegiant Stadium. He also oversaw the launch of the company’s Gaming National Business Line and expansion into the Utah market. 

Guedry’s longstanding commitment to improving public education in Nevada has made a real differ-ence in the state, including his efforts to ensure that every K-12 student in the state receives financial literacy education. Among his many professional and civic awards are The Public Education Founda-tion’s Education Hero Award (2015), UNLV’s Lee Business School Alumnus of the Year (2017) and the William S. Boyd Award of Excellence for outstanding support of legal aid and pro bono services by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (2019). 

"We are very grateful to John for his sound leadership over many years at Bank of Nevada and First Independent Bank, where his banking expertise and deep connections in the community combined to help the company build our formidable business and strong reputation in the Nevada market," said Tim Bruckner, chief banking officer for regional banking at Grand Merchant.

"John also has made significant contributions to Grand Merchant as a whole, and we appreciate that he and Bob will have the opportunity to work together in the coming months to facilitate our Nevada leadership transition for customers and colleagues,” he said. 

Cerminaro brings more than 25 years of banking experience to Grand Merchant having served in a variety of senior-level commercial, corporate and investment banking leadership roles at Santander Bank, KeyBank, Citigroup, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Most recently, he served as managing director and head of mid-corporate banking for Santander Bank in New York, where he led all aspects of the strategic direction of the group including spearheading the re-segmentation of the overall commercial business and national expansion. He served on the commercial banks senior operating committee and was a member of the U.S. senior executive leadership team where he was instrumental in initiating and executing several bank wide marketing, business development, transformation, and risk management initiatives.  

“Bob is a proven leader who brings with him a wealth of experience in commercial banking and an ability to build close ties with customers, both of which will serve us well in the fast-growing Nevada market,” said Bruckner. 

Cerminaro holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh, a certificate in finance from the London School of Economics and a master’s degree from St. John’s University. The Connecticut resident is relocating to Las Vegas and will office at the BON divisional offices.