As 2026 begins, the Southwest Florida financial landscape is shifting through a significant new alliance. FineMark Bank & Trust, a staple of the local banking community since 2007, has officially finalized its merger with the 161-year-old national institution, Commerce Bank & Trust.
This strategic move combines FineMark’s personalized service model with the extensive scale and resources of Commerce Bank, creating a powerhouse in the wealth management sector.
Growth and Capital Constraints
Founded in Fort Myers, FineMark has experienced rapid expansion over the last two decades, growing from a single location to 13 branches across Southwest Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina. However, Joe Catti, FineMark’s founder, noted that such speed comes with challenges.
“With banks, growth can be limiting by the amount of capital that you have,” Catti explained. “To grow really fast, you have to have enough earnings to build the capital base. We never had enough earnings, because we were growing so fast.”
After raising capital five times since 2007 and navigating external economic pressures—including interest rate hikes and increased regulatory costs—leadership sought a partner that could support sustainable growth without the constant need for fundraising.
The Merger by the Numbers
The deal significantly elevates the profile of the combined entity.
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National Ranking: The merger vaults Commerce Bank from a top-23 position to a top-15 bank-managed trust company in the United States.
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Assets: Commerce Bank’s assets have increased from approximately $32 billion to $36 billion.
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Administration: Assets under administration have reached roughly $90 billion.
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FineMark’s Contribution: FineMark entered the agreement with approximately $4 billion in assets, $3.1 billion in deposits, and $2.6 billion in loans.
Commerce Trust CEO John Handy highlighted the significance of the acquisition. “This really vaults our position several levels up,” Handy said. “We have a lot of scale. We have more assets under management. I would say it’s very much a big deal for us.”
What Changes for Customers?
Despite the change in ownership structure, Catti emphasized that operations will remain largely consistent for clients.
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Leadership: Joe Catti will continue to lead the brand, serving as Chair of Commerce Trust.
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Staffing: All FineMark operations and employees will remain in place.
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Branding: The most visible change will be the removal of the word “National” from the FineMark name to comply with federal regulations.
A Cultural Alignment
Discussions regarding the merger began in January 2025, with an agreement reached by June. According to leadership from both sides, the speed of the regulatory approval (just 33 days) and the finalization of the deal were driven by a shared philosophy.
“We were very aligned,” Catti said. “That’s the most important piece. Culture and the people. We agreed to merge. They’re much bigger than us, but that scale will help us continue to grow.”
