WALTHAM, MA–In a market defined by uncertainty, complexity, and rapid transformation, Ian Brandon has emerged as one of the most trusted, effective, and forward-thinking banking leaders in Greater Boston. As Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer at Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB), Brandon has helped shape the bank’s commercial platform into a regional powerhouse—earning him the distinction of 2025 Real Estate Banking Leader of the Year.
With more than 25 years of commercial banking experience and over $10 billion in closed transactions, Brandon is known not just for his technical acumen, but for his relationship-first approach to business. His success is rooted in understanding that banking—especially in commercial real estate—is as much about people as it is about numbers.
A Career Built on Relationships and Results
Since joining CSB in 2007, Brandon has played a central role in the evolution of the bank’s commercial strategy. He initially served as Head of Commercial Real Estate (CRE), where he built and led a high-performing team that developed customized, risk-managed financing solutions for developers, property owners, and investors across the region. His leadership in the CRE space helped CSB build credibility as a key player in a competitive and capital-intensive market.
In 2024, Brandon was promoted to Chief Commercial Banking Officer, where his oversight expanded to include not only real estate lending, but also commercial and industrial (C&I) lending, asset-based lending (ABL), and broader strategic growth initiatives. Reporting directly to CEO Ryan Bailey, Brandon now leads the bank’s commercial banking division, developing new products, growing market share, and ensuring that CSB’s offerings remain relevant and competitive.
A Modern Bank with 191 Years of History
Cambridge Savings Bank, one of the oldest and largest community banks in Massachusetts, is a mutual bank with a mission deeply tied to local prosperity. Founded in 1834, CSB has more than $7 billion in assets and operates 19 branches across the Commonwealth, including a recently opened location in Dorchester that reflects the bank’s deep commitment to underserved communities.
Unlike shareholder-driven institutions, CSB’s mutual structure enables it to prioritize long-term value over short-term profits. This translates to stronger client relationships, deeper community involvement, and a broader view of success.
Under Brandon’s leadership, CSB has significantly grown its commercial portfolio by remaining nimble, locally responsive, and open to alternative lending models. From financing large-scale CRE deals to expanding ABL capabilities and lending to fund platforms, the bank has embraced an increasingly dynamic and diversified approach to growth.
“We’re not just providing capital—we’re creating strategic partnerships,” Brandon said in a recent interview. “We succeed when our clients succeed, and that begins with listening, customizing, and delivering.”
A Leader With Regional Impact
Brandon’s influence extends well beyond the walls of the bank. He is an active member of several of the region’s leading real estate and finance organizations, including the Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), NAIOP, Urban Land Institute (ULI), and the Real Estate Lenders Association. His presence in these networks has helped position CSB as a go-to lender in Boston’s fast-moving CRE and commercial lending markets.
He also serves on the financial advisory board of The Winchendon School and is a member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Presidents Circle, reflecting a deep personal commitment to both education and healthcare causes.
Born in Switzerland and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, Brandon brings a global sensibility to his leadership style—marked by clarity, adaptability, and integrity. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MBA from Boston University.
CSB’s leadership—including Brandon and CEO Ryan Bailey—is building for the future with targeted investments in talent, digital platforms, and community partnerships. As the bank expands its services and customer base, Brandon is spearheading a vision that balances growth with values—ensuring CSB remains not only a financial institution, but a true community partner.
For his visionary leadership, track record of results, and unwavering dedication to clients and communities, Ian Brandon stands out as a deserving recipient of the 2025 Real Estate Banking Leader of the Year.
He’s not just financing buildings—he’s helping shape the future of Greater Boston’s economic landscape, one relationship at a time.
