United Community Banks, Inc. announced the addition of Clayton Summers who joins United's lending team to focus on the renewable energy sector. Summers has more than 18 years of banking industry experience and deep expertise in renewable energy finance.
"We are pleased to welcome Clayton and his expertise to our team" said Rich Bradshaw, President of United's newly renamed Commercial Banking Solutions area. "Renewable energy offers an exciting opportunity for us and we look forward to being able to fulfill the financing needs of this important growing energy segment."
Summers joins United after a lengthy and successful career in commercial and investment banking. Most recently, he served as a relationship manager with financial institutions in Charlotte, N.C. and developed a focus on assisting the renewable energy industry, including solar developers and energy tech companies. Summers has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's degree in business administration from Wake Forest University.
"The Renewable Energy lending team will be part of Commercial Banking Solutions, formerly known as Specialized Lending," said Lynn Harton, President and Chief Operating Officer of United. "When this group was created in 2014, we knew that adding specialized commercial lending expertise to our best-in-class community banking would be a success. With Rich Bradshaw's leadership, the group has continually met expectations and is now a significant contributor to United's profitability and growth. Given that the group contains a diversified set of commercial services bringing ‘large bank' lending expertise to our clients, we believe that ‘Commercial Banking Solutions' gives better clarity to its purpose."
In addition to Renewable Energy, Commercial Banking Solutions will continue to include the traditional commercial lending areas of Middle Market, Asset Based, Income Property, Senior Care, SBA and Builder Finance. As Commercial Banking Solutions president, Bradshaw will continue to lead and oversee the development of these business lines while continuing to assess potential new services as well.