By james art 
Community Unity Bank in Birmingham is adding banking industry veteran Greg Vernette to its leadership team. Vernette, who was instrumental in founding the former Level One Bank of Farmington Hills and growing it to its acquisition, will join Community Unity Bank as CEO.
Current founder and CEO Andy Meissner will continue in his role as president.
Community Unity Bank was founded in June 2023 to fill the void for a local community bank to better serve consumers and business owners in and around Oakland County as a result of significant industry consolidation. In its first year, the institution doubled its original size of assets with the ongoing goal of increasing small business deposits and loans to better serve our community.
“We have built an outstanding management team focused on customer service and operational success,” says Meissner. “We are always looking ahead and we know where we are taking this bank. Greg’s leadership skills and insight, based on decades of experience, will be of great benefit to us and our clients.”
Says Wernette, “I couldn’t be more pleased to join Community Unity Bank’s outstanding management team and bring my expertise in cultivating and growing successful community banks,” said “The foundation is in place. Working together, we will build a future based on cutting-edge technology and a laser focus on the needs of small businesses and people in our region.”
Wernette’s more than 35 years in banking include his most recent stint as founder and executive vice president of Level One Bank, a community bank he helped grow to more than $2.5 billion in assets through five acquisitions and an IPO before its sale in 2022. He previously served as a group manager at Comerica Bank, where he was responsible for a middle market lending group with $750 million in loans.