President, Volusia County
Rafael A. Ramirez, Jr., serves as President of BankFIRST's Volusia County market, and has been employed in the financial services industry for nearly 34 years. Prior to joining BankFIRST through acquisition, Ramirez served most recently as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of East Coast Community Bank, Ormond Beach, FL, and its Holding Company, The Commercial Bancorp, Inc. He was also a Member of East Coast's ALCO, Investment, Loan, Audit and Merger & Acquisition Committees.
Ramirez's career began in 1978 at Dixie Federal Savings & Loan Association in New Orleans, LA, as Loan Officer I Assistant Branch Manager, and continued to First Financial Bank, also in New Orleans, where he served as Assistant Vice President.
Ramirez relocated to Volusia County, FL in 1987, where he assumed the role of Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer of the Bank at Ormond By The Sea, which was acquired by Regions Financial Corporation, and became Regions Bank of Volusia County in 2000. During his tenure, he was responsible for the bank's Lending, Compliance and Security functions, and was the acting CRA Officer. His expertise is varied, and includes experience in management of the underwriting, origination, servicing, auditing and collections of commercial, real estate and consumer loan products, the administration, reporting and training of all bank regulations and compliance policies, as well as budgeting, quality control, and the implementation of a Profit Enhancement Program and a Mortgage Brokerage Operation.
A graduate of Loyola University, New Orleans, Ramirez received his BBA in Finance in 1978, and MBA in 1981. He was an intercollegiate athlete, lettering in both Basketball and Volleyball.
Ramirez is deeply rooted in the Volusia community, and is involved with the following organizations: Halifax Area I Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce, Government Relations Committee Member; Halifax Hospital Associates Board, Member; Florida Bankers Association, Government Relations Committee, Insurance Task Force, and BancPac; Stewart Marchman Center, Past Board Member and Finance Committee Member; Halifax Area Civic League, Board Member and Special Events Committee Member; United Way of Volusia County, Funds Allocation Committee Member and Past Panel Chair; Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce, Past President and Past Board Member; Ormond Beach YMCA, Past President, Board of Management Member, Advisory Board Member, and Treasurer; Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Board, Past Chairman; and Rotary Club of Ormond Beach, Past President.
Ramirez currently resides in Ormond Beach with his wife of 32 years, Patrice. They are proud parents of Rafael, Josie, and George, and share great times with three dogs and three cats, all rescued from the Humane Society. Ramirez enjoys golfing, traveling and riding his motorcycle.