Borough President Diaz Hosts 15th Annual ‘Bronx Bankers Breakfast’

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. presents Benjamin M. Lawsky, New York State’s first Superintendent of Financial Services, with a Bronx Afghan at the 15th annual Bronx Bankers Breakfast, held on Friday, May 10 at the Villa Barone Manor in Throggs Neck. Superintendent Lawsky delivered the keynote address at the event.

Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. once again hosted the largest networking event of its kind in the Bronx, the 15th Annual Bronx Bankers Breakfast. The event is produced as part of Bronx Week 2013 in partnership with the Business Initiative Corporation of New York and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC).

This year’s theme was “The New Bronx,” and the event saw more than 400 leaders in the fields of banking, business, real estate and tech come together to attend the breakfast, which is the largest event of its kind.

"Our Bankers Breakfast continued our focus on ‘The New Bronx,’ a theme I highlighted in my ‘State of the Borough’ address. We are seeing tens of millions of dollars currently being spent in the Bronx to develop commercial and residential sites, all of which are creating thousands of jobs in the process. That is certainly something worth celebrating,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

This year’s keynote speaker was Benjamin M. Lawsky, New York State’s first Superintendent of Financial Services. As Superintendent, Lawsky is the supervisor of all Insurance companies in New York, all New York State-chartered depository institutions and the majority of United States-based branches and agencies of foreign banking institutions. He also regulates all of New York State’s mortgage brokers, mortgage bankers, check cashers, money transmitters, budget planners, and similar providers of financial services. Entities supervised by the Department number approximately 4400, with assets of about $6.2 trillion.

Superintendent Lawsky led Governor Andrew Cuomo’s initiative to make the Department of Financial Services, which includes the former New York State Banking and Insurance Departments, into a modern unified financial regulator.

Superintendent Lawsky’s objectives for the new Department of Financial Services include three main goals—keeping New York on the cutting edge as the financial capital of the world, protecting consumers better than ever before, and serving as a model of efficient government.

Prior to his current position, Superintendent Lawsky was Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Chief of Staff. Previously, he served as the Deputy Counselor and Special Assistant to then-Attorney General Cuomo. Prior to that, Mr. Lawsky had spent over five years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted white collar crime, organized crime, and terrorism cases. He began his career as Chief Counsel to Senator Charles Schumer on the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice.

Superintendent Lawsky graduated from Columbia Law School and Columbia College.

For more information on Bronx week events, visit www.ilovethebronx.com.

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