As Valley Bank’s chief banking officer for New York, Josephine Savastano manages several business lines in the New York, Long Island, and Westchester/Hudson Valley markets, including Commercial Banking, Commercial Real Estate, and Business Banking.
She is responsible for managing client relationships, marketing for new relationships, cross-selling all Valley products, monitoring and risk management of the loan portfolio, and all aspects of staff management. She oversees a team of 77.
Josephine has been dedicated to supporting women’s career development and mentorship throughout her career and is a leadership advisor for Valley’s women’s resource group – WISE, Women Influencing Success & Empowerment.
In this role, she actively participates in developing the group’s strategy, helps set the annual agenda, and identifies speakers for the events. She also mentors employees.
WISE is part of the bank’s DEI strategy. The group’s goal is to foster a diverse and inclusive culture at Valley and is committed to providing opportunities for career development and networking for women colleagues, the highest-quality service to customers, and the communities in which the bank operates.
She is also an executive sponsor for Valley’s ESG council, which oversees the bank’s ESG efforts.
Valley is committed to making a positive and lasting impact on both the communities it serves and the world. The bank recognizes the role it plays and the unique opportunity to create a socially responsible and sustainable future and dedicates resources to make ESG a priority.
Last year, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City honored Josephine at its annual Accountants and Bankers reception for her leadership and dedication in banking and her support of BBBS of NYC’s mission to build and support mentoring relationships that ignite the biggest possible futures for youth.
She believes that mentoring young people as they start to think about their career dreams can make a positive impact on their lives.
In 2020, she was named Business Woman of the Year by the Queens Center for Progress.
Over the years, she has also supported Valley’s efforts to support Breast Cancer Research through the Valley Goes Pink Initiative and has led several teams on builds for Habitat for Humanity.
Josephine also previously served on the boards of the Brooklyn Chamber, the Long Island City Partnership, the Staten Island Chamber and the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation.
Prior to joining Valley in 2018, she spent five years as a regional senior vice president with Wells Fargo, eight years as a managing director with Sovereign Bank, and 13 years as a senior vice president with EAB/Citibank. She started her career with National Westminster Bank USA.
Josephine is a lifelong New Yorker and currently lives in Queens with her husband and their three children.
What advice would you give other business leaders?*
My advice to business leaders is to lean into their trusted advisors. Every business owner needs to have a good attorney, CPA and a financial advisor/banker. The right partners can be an invaluable source of information and can help business owners make informed decisions.
