Keith Costello Recognized as a 2026 Power Leader in Banking & Finance

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. (June 19, 2026) — Locality Bank Chairman and CEO Keith Costello has been recognized as a 2026 Power Leader in Banking & Finance by the South Florida Business Journal (SFBJ), an honor that highlights his leadership and contributions to the region’s banking industry.

For Costello, however, the recognition is less about individual achievement and more about the people who have helped build Locality Bank.

“When I get an honor like this from the South Florida Business Journal, I immediately realize how fortunate I am to have such great people to work with at Locality Bank,” Costello said. “No one person does (everything) in any organization. The real success of any organization is about the people you recruit, attract and empower.”

That philosophy has guided Locality Bank since its founding and continues to shape the bank’s approach to serving local businesses.

The honor comes during a period of significant momentum for both Costello and Locality Bank. Earlier this year, Costello was named to SFBJ’s Power Leaders 250 and was previously honored as a Power Leader in Banking in 2023. Locality was also named SFBJ’s fastest-growing company in its revenue category in 2025 and recently ranked No. 22 on the 2026 Inc. Regionals Southeast list of the fastest-growing private companies in the region.

Under Costello’s leadership, Locality has focused on building a community bank that combines personalized service, local decision-making and modern technology. The bank’s growth reflects continued demand from businesses seeking a banking partner that understands their goals and can respond to their needs.

That vision is rooted in Costello’s entrepreneurial approach to banking. “When I was a kid, I always thought I would become a scientist,” he said. Later, he envisioned owning restaurants and hotels before discovering that community banking offered an opportunity to build something meaningful while helping others achieve their goals.

“I still had that entrepreneurial itch to start my own thing,” Costello said. “I started working in community banks and realized you can be an entrepreneur and still launch your own bank. Once I did that, there was no going back.”

Today, Costello says the same sense of purpose continues to drive him. “I love what I’m doing,” he said. “It’s a purpose for me—being able to help people. I think my nine-year-old self would be happy with where I ended up.”