Sterling National Bank announced Ernest Pelli has joined its asset-based lending division as managing director. Pelli will serve middle-market commercial companies across the country, with particular emphasis on manufacturing, wholesale operations, distribution, and service industries.

The addition of Pelli reflects the continued growth of Sterling's broad range of specialty finance offerings, which include asset-based lending, factoring and trade finance, healthcare finance, payroll finance, equipment finance, and public sector finance.

"We are very excited to add Ernest's skills and experience to our growing team," said Thomas X. Geisel, Sterling's President of Specialty Finance. "He has a proven track record of creating financing solutions to help companies grow and thrive."

Pelli brings to Sterling more than two decades of asset-based lending experience. He previously served as senior vice president of Global Commercial Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he sourced, structured and closed asset-based lending facilities for middle-market and large-cap clients across a variety of industries.

"As we continue to build on our financing solutions to meet the needs of middle market businesses, we are very pleased to welcome Ernest to Sterling," said Dan Chapa, Senior Managing Director of Sterling's Asset-Based Lending and Healthcare Finance divisions. "The addition of talented team members such as Ernest reflects Sterling's commitment to providing the highest quality of personalized service to our clients."

Sterling National Bank, the principal subsidiary of Sterling Bancorp, specializes in the delivery of service and solutions to business owners, their families, and consumers in communities within the greater New York City area through teams of dedicated and experienced relationship managers. Sterling National Bank offers a complete line of commercial, business, and consumer banking products and services.