Berkshire names Houghtaling commercial regional leader for New York region

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), the holding company for Berkshire Bank, today announced the appointment of Scott J. Houghtaling to senior vice president, commercial leader for its New York region. 

Houghtaling will report to George F. Bacigalupo, executive vice president of commercial banking, and be responsible for leading Berkshire’s commercial-lending efforts and teams across Eastern and Central New York, the banking company said. 

 “Scott has extensive relationships and middle market lending experience in the Capital Region and across Central New York, and is the right person to build on the commercial banking success Berkshire has had in this region.  I look forward to working with him and his teams to continue the growth momentum in Albany and our recently enhanced footprint through Utica and Syracuse, Bacigalupo said in a news release.

Berkshire is based in Pittsfield, Mass., but is building a growing presence in Central New York. The banking company first entered the area in 2011 with its acquisition of Rome Savings Bank and purchased DeWitt–based Beacon Federal in October 2012.

Berkshire also recently completed its acquisition of 20 upstate New York branch offices from Bank of America, effective Jan. 17. The acquisition includes 11 branches in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

Houghtaling has more than 20 years of experience in commercial banking in New York state. He joins Berkshire from RBS Citizens, where he was SVP, team leader and managed a $950 million portfolio focused on not-for-profit and health-care customers in New York, according to Berkshire. Houghtaling joined Citizens Bank in 2003 in its middle-market banking group and previously worked for JPMorgan Chase and Fleet Bank in relationship management and credit roles based in Albany, Berkshire’s news release stated. Houghtaling has a bachelor’s degree in business from Siena College.

In his new position, Houghtaling replaces Michael Carroll, who was appointed chief credit officer of Berkshire Bank in October 2013.  Houghtaling will be based in Berkshire’s Albany headquarters, located at 41 State St.  He will lead Berkshire’s growing commercial team, which currently includes eight commercial relationship managers together with Christopher Papayanakos, SVP commercial regional leader for Syracuse, according to Berkshire. 

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com