M&T Bank president and COO, Mark Czarnecki, dies

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mark Czarnecki, president and COO of M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB), died Sunday “after an extended illness.” He was 61.

Czarnecki served as president of M&T Bank for the past decade, the banking company said in a news release issued Monday. M&T Bank is the main banking subsidiary of M&T Bank Corp. (M&T).

He was a member of the boards of directors of M&T Bank and M&T, and sat on M&T’s management committee, per the release.

Czarnecki “distinguished himself as a leader and a servant of others” throughout his life and career, Robert Wilmers, chairman and CEO of M&T, said in the release.

“Both his leadership and his service will be missed greatly — by his family, his colleagues, and his community. But his life and his legacy will live on in all of us, as we carry forth Mark’s example, seeking first to enrich the lives of others, then together to grow and improve our company, and finally to create a better and stronger community,” said Wilmers.

A 40-year veteran of the banking company, Czarnecki began his career as an assistant branch manager. He went on to hold “numerous” managerial positions in retail banking, business banking, commercial lending, securities, and investments.

M&T named Czarnecki president in 2007 and COO in January 2014, the banking company said.

In addition, Czarnecki also served as chairman of the New York City–based New York Bankers Association in 2010.

Czarnecki is survived by his wife of 38 years, Elizabeth; son, Christopher and his wife Jill (Bowman); and son, Gregory and his fiancée Rosanna Monachino, per the release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com