Michael Carafa

As VP, Commercial Lending, Mike Carafa is continually establishing business relationships and maintaining his commercial loan portfolio at Manasquan Bank. “Our solid foundation and reputation for providing for best-in-class service helps me attract and retain quality relationships” stated Carafa.

Prior to his promotion in 2018, Carafa held the position of Portfolio Manager, overseeing commercial underwriting and customer interactions. A 2004 Monmouth University graduate with a B.S. in Finance and minor in Accounting, Carafa began his career as a municipal tax collector for the Borough of Deal, N.J. and earned a certification as a licensed tax collector. He then entered the commercial banking industry with Commerce Bank in Toms River, N.J., where he was formally credit trained while learning all aspects of commercial lending, including construction, SBA, asset-based, CRE and C&I loans.

Following his time at Commerce Bank, he spent the next few years as an asset-based auditor for a privately-owned company and a subsequent position at CIT, underwriting and closing 7(a) and 504 loan facilities. During this time, he welcomed his first son.

Eventually, he moved to First Commerce Bank where he was a VP of Commercial Lending, Carafa further advanced his skills in construction and SBA lending. After the birth of his second child, he joined Manasquan Bank as a portfolio manager, continuing to expand his skill set en route to his June 2018 promotion to VP, Commercial Lending.

“Carafa has been a charismatic and highly productive addition to our Commercial Lending team, and we are proud to reward him for all of his hard work,” said James S. Vaccaro, President and CEO of Manasquan Bank. “We know he and the rest of the team will continue to deliver the personalized, friendly experience that brings so many local business owners and entrepreneurs to Manasquan Bank for local lending.”

In addition to having two sons, Carafa has a 4 Year Old Lab name Jessie. Carafa volunteers his time to Vested Interest in K9s, both recruiting and raising funds for the organization, which provides bullet- and stab-proof vests for dogs of Law Enforcement.