Agostinho Alfonso Macedo: Expanding Ocean Bank to enter Orlando, perhaps Tampa

Agostinho Alfonso Macedo started in banking in 1991 at Banco Plaza in Venezuela. Since 2008, he has headed one of the top community banks in Miami-Dade County and South Florida, Ocean Bank. 

During his career, he has gone through at least three major crises. The first, an IT error when Banco Plaza was going through the migration of the system on the eve of the change of millenniums. The second, the 2008 financial crisis, when he had just become CEO and president of Ocean Bank. And the third, the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Macedo was able to succeed in each of the adversities and he learned “a ton of lessons” he continues to apply.

At the end of 2021, Ocean Bank hit $1.2 billion in loan production, exceeding its own expectations. With the real estate boom in South Florida, the bank has many opportunities and plans to continue growing and strengthening its position in the market. 

As the leader of a community bank with many opportunities, Mr. Macedo manages to balance his time with his wife and two daughters and still makes time to be involved in the community. He has been involved in United Way of Miami as a board member, was part of the Board of Directors of the Florida International Bankers Association, and continues to be part of the Dean’s Council for the School of Business at Florida International University. 

Mr. Macedo acknowledges that he is at the top of his career. He is convinced Ocean Bank has the best team in town. “I know it sounds arrogant, but it’s not arrogant, it’s true,” he said. “I really have the very best people surrounding me.” 

Mr. Macedo spoke with Miami Today reporter Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow. 

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