Podcast

What is the “Secret Sauce” to Community Bank System, Inc.’s Long Term Success?

By: Sharon J. Lorman
Jeffrey P. Marsico

Guest: Mark E. Tryniski, CEO, President & Director, Community Bank System, Inc. (“CBU”)

Podcast Show Notes:

Our This Month In Banking (TMIB) podcast features discussion with colleagues and other industry thought leaders on interesting banking topics. TMIB is available on the last Wednesday of every month here, or wherever you get your podcasts, for your listening enjoyment. Join us on your commute, at your desk, or at home.

Topic: What is the “Secret Sauce” to Community Bank System, Inc.’s Long Term Success?

Our guest is Mark E. Tryniski, CEO, President & Director, Community Bank System, Inc. (“CBU”)

Mr. Tryniski joined Community Bank System, Inc. in 2003 as its Chief Financial Officer and has been at the helm since 2006. Under his leadership, the Company has grown from $4.2 billion in total assets to over $15.1 billion in total assets today. Mr. Tryniski is the architect of the Company’s core values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, and humility and has created a corporate culture that embodies these values and an executive team that is poised for continued success. Mr. Tryniski will retire as the Company’s President and CEO effective as of December 31, 2023, and will serve as a Director of the Company and the Bank until December 31, 2024. He shares with us lessons learned throughout his career, thoughts on the current situation in banking, and the secret sauce to CBU’s consistent and long-term financial performance. Listen and enjoy!

Community Bank System, Inc.

Community Bank System, Inc. is a $15.1 billion diversified financial services company focused on four main business lines – banking, benefits administration, insurance services and wealth management. Its banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. is among the country’s 100 largest banking institutions and operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. In addition to a full range of retail, business, and municipal banking services, the Company offers comprehensive financial planning, trust administration and wealth management services through its Community Bank Wealth Management operating unit. The Company’s Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. subsidiary is a leading provider of employee benefits administration, trust services, collective investment fund administration and actuarial consulting services to customers on a national scale. The Company’s OneGroup NY, Inc. subsidiary is a top 100 U.S. insurance agency. Community Bank System, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Company’s stock trades under the symbol CBU.

Biography

Mark E. Tryniski
President & Chief Executive Officer
Community Bank Systems, Inc.

Mark E. Tryniski was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2006 and was elected to the Board of Directors at that time. Mr. Tryniski has been with the bank since 2003, serving first as its Chief Financial Officer, and from 2005 to 2006 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Prior to his position with Community Bank System, Tryniski was a partner in the Syracuse office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with 18 years of experience working with SEC registrants in banking and other industries.

Mr. Tryniski has a BS degree in Accounting from Oswego State University of New York, and an AAS from Onondaga Community College.

He is active in many industry and civic organizations, including ConMed Corporation, Pursuit Lending, Onondaga Community College and Oswego State University.

This podcast relates to The Kafafian Group’s Strategic Management service. Click here for more information.

Watch for episode 93 of This Month in Banking to be released on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023, and a new episode on the last Wednesday of every month.

Thank you for listening!