Integro Bank Taps Founder for CEO, Signaling Disciplined Growth Phase

PHOENIX, AZ – January 06, 2026 – Integro Bank, a Phoenix-based commercial bank, has announced a significant leadership transition, appointing founder and board member James "Jim" Malerba as its Acting Chief Executive Officer. The move, effective January 1, 2026, marks a pivotal moment for the institution as it officially concludes its intensive De Novo phase and pivots toward a new era of strategic expansion.

The appointment of Malerba, an insider with nearly four decades of banking experience, is designed to ensure stability and continuity. He succeeds Thomas Inserra, the founding CEO who steered the bank through its critical formative years. This transition signals Integro Bank's strategic shift from a startup entity to a maturing institution ready to scale its operations while adhering to the conservative risk principles that have defined its early success.

Navigating the Gauntlet of a De Novo Bank

Integro Bank's transition is more than just a leadership change; it represents the successful navigation of one of the financial industry's most demanding challenges. The "De Novo" period, a term for a newly chartered bank, typically involves a heightened supervisory period from regulators like the FDIC, often lasting up to seven years. During this time, new banks operate under intense scrutiny, facing stringent capital requirements and the immense pressure of building a customer base from scratch in a competitive market.

Since its charter in June 2022, Integro Bank has managed to clear these hurdles. The successful completion of this phase is a testament to its ability to establish a solid operational foundation, robust risk management infrastructure, and a viable business plan that resonated with regulators and investors alike. The bank’s progress was highlighted in its recent performance metrics, which, as of September 30, 2025, reportedly showed strong profitability, consistent balance sheet growth, and strong credit quality, placing it among the top-performing banks based in Arizona. This achievement is particularly noteworthy in a post-2008 financial landscape where the barriers to entry for new banks have been significantly elevated.

A New Leader Focused on Stability and Prudent Expansion

At the helm of this next chapter is Jim Malerba, whose background appears tailor-made for the bank's stated objective of "thoughtful expansion." With 39 years in banking, Malerba brings deep expertise in the critical areas of risk management, regulatory oversight, and executive leadership. As a retired CPA, his proficiency in finance and accounting adds another layer of financial discipline to the leadership team.

Malerba is not an outsider. As a founder, organizer, and member of the Board of Directors—as well as Chair of the Board Governance Committee—his appointment ensures that the bank's core mission and conservative culture will be preserved during its growth phase. This emphasis on internal continuity is a strategic choice to avoid the disruptions that can accompany external leadership changes, particularly for a financial institution moving from startup to scale-up.

Rick Schobert, Chairman of the Board, affirmed this strategy. "Integro Bank is entering its next chapter from a position of strength," Schobert stated. "We have built an impressive platform for sustainable growth, and Jim's experience and leadership will support The Bank's momentum in this next stage of growth while maintaining the conservative risk culture that has defined our success."

Building on a Foundation That Addressed a Market Void

The bank's current position of strength was built on a foundation laid by outgoing CEO Thomas Inserra. Inserra, who concluded his tenure on December 31, 2025, was instrumental in identifying a significant gap in the Arizona market. His pre-launch research revealed that Arizona ranked last among U.S. states for the number of banks relative to its population and had one of the lowest rates of small business loan approvals. This data pointed to a substantial unmet need for a relationship-focused commercial bank dedicated to the region's entrepreneurs.

With a unique background that included managing distressed banks for the FDIC and launching technology startups, Inserra was well-equipped to build a new bank from the ground up. He established Integro's mission-driven culture, its disciplined operating model, and its innovative, digital-first approach. The bank's proprietary Integro360 program—a complimentary, eight-step consultative process that provides business valuations and peer financial data to clients—was a key differentiator developed under his leadership. This, combined with offerings like the exclusive CEO Club for local business owners, helped Integro carve out a distinct niche. Inserra's departure is framed as a planned succession, marking the successful completion of his mandate to establish and stabilize the institution.

Poised for Growth in Arizona's Dynamic Economy

As Integro Bank moves forward, its focus remains squarely on disciplined growth and long-term value creation. The bank's strategy is not to grow at all costs, but to scale thoughtfully, leveraging its strong community ties and specialized services for small and mid-sized businesses.

"Our focus remains on thoughtful expansion, strong governance, and long-term value creation," Malerba commented on the bank's future. This approach is critical in today's banking environment, which is characterized by increasing competition from nonbank lenders, rapid technological change, and a complex economic climate.

By being an Approved SBA Lender and offering sophisticated tools like its IntegroAutomate360 for accounts payable and receivable, the bank is positioned to deepen its relationships with its core client base. Its digital-first model allows it to operate with the agility of a modern fintech company, while its leadership's deep banking experience provides the stability and trust of a traditional institution. As it embarks on this next stage, Integro Bank looks to build upon its successful De Novo foundation and continue its trajectory as a key financial partner for businesses across Arizona.