First County Bank names new director of operational risk and compliance

John Bonora recently joined First County Bank as first vice president, director of operational risk and compliance. His primary responsibilities include the continuous assessment of the bank's compliance management system as it relates to all federal and state laws and regulations, and additionally, directs and leads the bank's enterprise-wide risk management program.

Bonora has been engaged in the financial services industry since 2001 and brings experience in strategic planning, development and leadership of an enterprise-wide compliance risk management program.

Prior to joining First County Bank, Bonora was vice president regulatory risk and compliance assurance manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland, based in Stamford.

From 2007 to 2011, he worked at Fairfield County Bank as vice president/compliance officer. He was responsible for compliance management that included an investment and insurance subsidiary. Bonora also worked for Webster Financial Corp. as an audit supervisor, responsible for budgeting, resource allocation and management of a pool of audit professionals.

"John brings a strong background in operational risk and compliance having worked at both an international bank and several community banks in the area," said Rey Giallongo, First County Bank chairman and CEO. "We look forward to John's contribution to First County Bank."

Bonora was recently appointed to the American Bankers Association Compliance Administrative Committee and has earned national recognition as a subject matter expert for identity theft, vendor management and information security compliance.

Bonora earned a master's degree in financial risk management from the University of Connecticut and earned a bachelor's degree in economics-finance from Bentley University. He also completed a consumer protection risk management training program offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and attended the American Bankers Association graduate school of compliance and risk management at Emory University. He lives in North Haven with his wife. He enjoys golf, travel and home winemaking.

First County Bank, headquartered in Stamford for more than 160 years, is an independent mutual community bank with 15 branches in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and Westport offering deposit products, mortgages, trust and investment services, business banking services and online banking.