ISLANDIA, N.Y., May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empire Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: EMPK), the parent holding company of Empire National Bank, announced today that Chief Financial Officer Janet T. Verneuille plans to depart the company to explore other opportunities, effective May 17, 2019. President Thomas M. Buonaiuto will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis, pending the identification of a qualified candidate to fill the position on a permanent basis.

Before becoming President of Empire Bancorp and Empire National Bank, Mr. Buonaiuto served as Chief Financial Officer of Union State Bank, a $2.9 billion asset New York Stock Exchange-listed state commercial bank, and prior thereto, as Chief Financial Officer of Long Island Commercial Bank, and its holding company Long Island Financial Corp. He began his business career as an audit manager for KPMG. Mr. Buonaiuto is licensed by the State of New York as a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

About Empire Bancorp, Inc.

Empire Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company for Empire National Bank, a Long Island-based independent community bank that specializes in serving the financial needs of small and medium sized businesses, professionals, nonprofit organizations, real estate investors, and consumers. The bank has four full service banking offices located in Islandia, Shirley, Port Jefferson Station and Mineola, New York, and a loan production office in New York City. Our bankers take pride in understanding the needs of each customer so the bank can deliver the highest quality of service with a sense of urgency.