Banker with close community ties named HarVest VP

Levenson is new head of commercial relationships

Friday, Jan. 5, 2007

Growing up the daughter of a prominent Washington, D.C.-area banker, Michelle ‘‘Mickie” Riley Levenson learned about the business early in life.

Among the lessons the late Joseph H. Riley taught her was to put customers first. ‘‘Even when he was CEO, he answered his own phone,” Levenson said. ‘‘He taught me to look beyond the financial picture.”

Levenson has applied such lessons in her banking career, which recently saw her named vice president of commercial relationships for HarVest Bank of Maryland in Rockville.

Her ‘‘more than 20 years of local banking experience and a wealth of community and nonprofit involvement will serve her well,” John P. Hollerbach, president and CEO, said in a statement. The hiring coincides with the community bank’s ‘‘expansion into Bethesda and the acceleration of our growth strategy,” he said.

Born in Bethesda, Levenson attended Churchill High School in Potomac, then earned a bachelor’s in business administration in 1981 from the University of Delaware. She started working in branch banking for the former Madison Bank in the District out of college before going into commercial lending.

‘‘It’s good to have branch experience so you know more about how the bank operates,” Levenson said. ‘‘I’ve worked for small, medium and large banks. I really enjoy smaller banks with their emphasis on community and customer service.”

Levenson’s stints include those at Riggs Bank in the District, Signet Bank in Tyson’s Corner, Va., Colombo Bank in Rockville and American Partners Bank in Bethesda. She also obtained a master’s in business administration from George Washington University in 1993.

Riley, a longtime president of the former National Savings and Trust Co., was a big believer in community service. He headed numerous District organizations, including the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and ran the national Christmas tree lighting event for 15 years.

Levenson has been active in community organizations herself. She is a current board member of Heroes Inc., a District organization that helps families of killed police officers and firefighters, and the Landon Symphonette, a Bethesda organization that teams young musicians with professionals. She has also been a director at Imagination Stage in Bethesda and the Treatment and Learning Center in Rockville.

Levenson has stayed in the area throughout her career primarily because she has never had a reason to leave. ‘‘My family is here, and I’ve had good job opportunities here,” she said. ‘‘I love living in the nation’s capital [region].”

HarVest Bank, which formed about two years ago, recently opened its third branch at 9708 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. Other branches are in Rockville and Germantown. As of Sept. 30, the bank had $90.6 million in assets, more than double the total a year ago.

Levenson lives in Potomac with her husband, Scott, and their three children. She enjoys spending time on family outings, such as going to Washington Redskins football games and playing golf.