Univest plans move into York County, adds staff in Lancaster County

Univest Bank and Trust Co. is making plans to enter the York County market while beefing up its staff in Lancaster County.

The Souderton-based bank is currently exploring locations for an office in York County and hopes to open one in the near future, according to Thomas J. Jordan IV, Lancaster market president for Univest.

“We feel that York County is an underserved market due to consolidation in the industry. This presents a great opportunity for Univest to fill that void,” he said in an email interview.

“What we do at Univest and the needs of the business consumer in York County are a naturally good fit. From great family-owned businesses to a strong agricultural presence, the needs align with our areas of expertise,” he said.

Chau Nguyen has been hired as the bank’s York County market leader, but will work out of Univest’s Lancaster regional office, located in the Greenfield Corporate Center in East Lampeter Township, until a new office is established.

“He will focus on building a team to support our commercial banking efforts in York County as well as considering opportunities to further expand in adjacent counties,” Jordan said.

Nguyen will join seven other new members of the commercial banking team at the Lancaster office, six of whom will serve as lenders and support staff serving Lancaster County, and another lender who will focus on Chester County.

“This group has more than 160 years of combined experience helping generations of families with their business goals,” Jordan said in a news release.

The new team will include Peter Miklos, executive vice president and group leader; Nathan Edmunds, vice president and relationship manager; Michelle Graves, senior commercial underwriter; Michael Maurer, vice president and relationship manager; Chau Nguyen, vice president and York County market leader; Craig Portner, senior vice president and relationship manager, Juanita Sauder, relationship administrator, Beth Schaeffer, relationship administrator.

Univest entered the Lancaster market in 2016 and now employs more than 50 people between its regional office and five financial centers in West Earl Township, Bart Township, Leacock Township, Strasburg Township and West Lampeter Township. Most of its branches are in the Philadelphia area.

Univest Financial and its subsidiary, Univest Bank and Trust Co. has approximately $5 billion in assets and $3.3 billion in assets under management through its wealth management business as of December 2018.