David Femi currently serves as M&T Bank’s Regional Manager for Business & Professional Banking for Fairfield County and Southern Connecticut.
He also started, led, and developed M&T Bank’s enterprise wide Multicultural Banking & Diverse Market Strategy Segment. During this time, he developed the multicultural branch designation framework and developed the nationally renowned Multicultural Small Business Lab – An effort that was nationally recognized with live appearances on TV networks such as Bloomberg, Cheddar News, and an appearance on Wall Street to ring to NYSE opening bell to open the global trading markets. Prior to leading the bank’s Multicultural and Diverse Market Strategy, David served as the Retail Regional Sales Manager for the Buffalo Central Region of M&T Bank.
M&T Bank Corporation is the 11th largest commercial bank in the United States with over 900 branches and 1100 plus ATM’s serving customers and communities all through the East Coast with its national headquarters in Buffalo NY and Mid-Atlantic and New England headquarters in Baltimore, MD; and Bridgeport CT, respectively.
While serving as the Retail Regional Sales Manager for the headquarter region in Buffalo NY, David led efforts to grow the bank’s market share in the diverse communities in the city of Buffalo. His efforts and leadership led to the development of the bank’s first ever Cash Secured Credit Card Product for the entire enterprise. Furthermore, he led efforts to bring the Bank On (Communities for Financial Empowerment) program to M&T. This program allows banks to offer free and affordable checking accounts to families and individuals particularly in economically challenged communities.
An enthusiastic and visionary leader in the banking and financial services industry, David has a track record of building and leading successful teams. David is most fulfilled when helping people to grow professionally. His vision and ability to nurture relationships lead to long term solutions and success.
A change advocate with deep sense of community, diverse market growth expertise and neighborhood revitalization, David is committed to adding strength and resiliency to our diverse communities across the M&T footprint. Viewed nationally as a thought leader in the diverse and inclusive growth strategy space, throughout his tenure in the financial services and banking industry, David has built a reputation for championing financial services inclusivity aimed at empowering families, small businesses, and the community at large.
Upon his relocation to Bridgeport CT in the fall of 2022, David led efforts to bring an M&T bank branch to the East End of Bridgeport. The branch is currently being constructed and should be ready to open late 2024. In the state of CT, he has built a team of business banking relationship managers who are saddled with the responsibility of working with businesses with annual revenue size of $250,000 to $25,000,000.
The mission of his team is to transform businesses and grow communities across Fairfield County and the state at large. Since 2021, David has launched and led the M&T bank Multicultural Small Business Lab in the Greater Bridgeport metropolis, taking over 130 diverse businesses through an intensive 8 week of empowerment sessions with cash prizes of about $50,000 given to these businesses to help them scale and bring new products to the marketplace. Nationally, he has led these labs in 7 cities with over 300 participants and over $200,000 given to these businesses in cash prizes.
He currently serves on various boards including serving on the board of directors for the Housatonic Community College Foundation. David also serves on the leadership committee of the American Bankers Association Black Banker Employee Resource Group. David is a member of the Southern CT University Presidential Advisory Committee. He is the current Chairman of the Greater Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Under David’s leadership, strategic partnerships with the CT Minority Construction
Council, Black Alliance, Southern CT Black Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, the NRZ, MBA (Minority Business Association) in the Greater Bridgeport area and many others, have been established. He recently sat on an SBA (Small Business Administration) panel in CT to highlight the importance of banks investing in diverse businesses and communities across the state of CT.
An All-American scholar, David consistently embraces the core values of integrity, innovation, and growth. He is the recipient of the George Washington Leadership Award from Delaware State University and a recipient of the Wilmington Delaware YMCA Black Achievers Leadership Award.
David was recognized for his work in championing community revitalization efforts via financial empowerment programs and working with numerous public and private sector leaders to improve the plight of Buffalo’s East Side community. He was awarded the Buffalo Black Achievers Leadership Award in 2019. In 2022, the Buffalo Business First recognized David as one of the ‘Who’s who in Banking” in WNY (Western New York).
David holds a Finance MBA and bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Finance from Delaware State University. He holds an Investment Banking Certificate from the Investment Banking Institute.
In addition to his profession as a banker, David also serves as an adjunct professor and has taught courses at Wilmington University in Newcastle DE, Hilbert, and Houghton Colleges in Buffalo NY, and at the University of Bridgeport in CT.
