June 26. Aquesta Bank has recruited commercial banker Michelle Riley from Bank of North Carolina to be the Concord City Executive for the Cornelius-based bank.

“It’s a very attractive market; there are quite a few businesses that are looking to expand there,” said Aquesta CEO Jim Engel. “This [a commercial loan production effort] is a very practical opportunity.”

RILEY

Although Riley will work out of her home, this could be a step toward opening a branch in Cabarrus “in the next couple of years,” Engel said.

Aquesta is taking over a CertusBank branch in SouthPark. It recently closed the Aquesta Insurance Services office in Kannapolis when the market leaders there either retired or left.

“We were looking, but we were not able to find a market leader for that office,” Engel said, explaining that the space has not been sublet. “If we find the right person to lead the office, we will reopen it, otherwise we will sublet it,” he said. Still, it’s possible that Riley could grow her book of business and turn the old insurance office into banking offices.

Riley, a 2013 graduate of the NC School of Banking, has been active in Cabarrus community service, including Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County, Concord Rotary and the United Way Campaign Cabinet.

“We are fortunate to have Michelle join Aquesta to spearhead our entrance into the Concord market. She has a solid banking background, and as a Concord resident, she knows the community extremely well,” Engel said.

Aquesta Bank has two branches in Cornelius, one in Davidson, two in Mooresville, one in Huntersville, and a branch scheduled to open in SouthPark in July. Aquesta Insurance Services has offices in Cornelius, Mooresville and Wilmington.