Five Rivers Bank didn't start in a stuffy boardroom. It started with conversations over tea, between immigrant entrepreneurs who had spent decades building their version of the American Dream right here in New Jersey.
A Story of Dreams and Determination
As chairman, president, and CEO of Five Rivers Bank I can tell you, that after more than 40 years in banking, what we've built here is different. It's personal. And for the small businesses of Paramus, Bergen County, and beyond, it's exactly what's been missing.
Let me tell you how this bank came to be.
These founders came to America with little more than their work ethic and their values. The name "Five Rivers" itself speaks to their heritage, rooted in the rich cultural traditions of the Punjab region, where five rivers flow together to nourish the land. They brought with them the Sikh principles of honest work, service to others, and sharing prosperity with the community.
For decades, they built successful businesses. They hired local workers. They sponsored little league teams. They showed up when the community needed them. And through it all, they dealt with the same frustrations every small business owner knows too well: banks moved slowly, loan officers didn't return their calls, decisions took weeks when opportunities demanded days.
They'd already lived the immigrant experience of being overlooked by big institutions, but they knew there had to be a better way. They understood what it meant to need a financial partner who actually picked up the phone, who made decisions locally, who treated your business like it mattered. Someone who knew you.
And that's when our paths crossed. I'd spent my entire career in New Jersey community banking, including serving as CEO of two de novo banks and serving as Chairman of the New Jersey Bankers Association. I knew the market, the regulations, and most importantly, I shared their vision: banking should work for the people who make our communities thrive.
Together, we embarked on the multi-year regulatory approval process to create something genuinely different. It wasn't easy. But neither was building a business from scratch or navigating a new country with determination and faith. We kept our eyes on what mattered: creating a bank where responsiveness isn't a promise, it's a practice.
What This Means for Businesses
If you run a business, you know that timing is everything. A chance to expand your storefront. An opportunity to buy equipment at the right price. A moment to hire that key employee who could really help your operation. These moments don't wait for loan committees in another state to review your file and get back to you whenever they feel like it.
At Five Rivers Bank, we have local lending authority. That means when you walk into our office, you can talk to the people who actually make decisions. Not gatekeepers. Not intermediaries. Decision-makers who understand your business because they understand this community.
We can give you answers in days, not weeks. We work with your accountant and your advisors to solve problems before they become obstacles. We offer transparent fees and flexible lending that works with you, not against you.
Because when you factor in the cost of missed opportunities, tied-up capital, or slow responses when the market is moving, the value of speed and expertise becomes crystal clear.
More Than Banking
Many of our team have spent our entire careers right here in Bergen County. We've seen businesses grow from single locations to regional operations. We've helped families build wealth that spans generations. We've been there through expansions and challenges, always with the same commitment: your success is our business.
This philosophy comes straight from our founders' values. Service from the heart. Leading by example. The genuine belief that when our community prospers, we all prosper. It's not just good ethics, though it certainly is that. It's also smart business. We measure our success by each relationship, not transactions per quarter. That means we're incentivized to see you grow for the long term.
An Invitation
Come talk with us. Not because we're the new bank in town, but because we're the kind of partner you've been looking for.
Whether you're running a medical practice, a contracting business, a retail operation, or any of the thousands of enterprises that make this country the economic engine it is, we'd welcome the chance to win your business.
I've been embedded in this community for decades. I didn't take on this role because I needed another title. I did it because after all these years, I still believe in what community banking can be when it's done right. It should feel like working with people who understand what you're building, who move at the pace you need, and who genuinely want to see you succeed.
Five Rivers Bank realizes that vision.
That's what our founders dreamed of creating. And that's what we’re going to deliver, every single day.
Welcome to Five Rivers Bank. Let's grow together.
