Metro Bank raids TD's Commerce veterans

Stephen McWilliams, who used to run Commerce Bancorp's 25-branch network in suburban Chester and Delaware counties, has left his post at Commerce successor TD Bank to join Metro Bancorp Inc., the Republic First-Commerce Bank of Pennsylvania mashup backed by Commerce founder Vernon Hill.

McWilliams joins Metro retail chief Rhonda Costello, chief operating and information officer Andrew Logue, marketing boss Kevin Barry, cash management head Janet Roig, and chief credit officer Jay Neilon, in leaving TD. McWilliams now serves as senior vice president and senior commercial lender. "Red is back," said McWilliams in a statement, recalling Metro's red M logo, reminiscent of the old Commerce C. Yes, it's kind of a pep rally over there.

But Commerce employed more than 16,000, all told, and "the senior leadership team from Commerce remains at TD," says spokesman Neil Parmentier.

Fred Graziano, who rose from Commerce's Gloucester County head to its central New Jersy boss, now runs TD's "1000-plus stores from New England to Florida." Graziano's deputy, Commerce veteran Linda Verba, heads the new iteration of Commerce's "Wow! service model," including "retail integration" of old Commerce and old TD Banknorth branches. Mike Carbone, who ran Commerce in South Jersey, now runs the bank's metro Philly-South Jersey-Delaware market.

Man, we love competition, when it means job opportunities, better service and lower prices.