Joseph Javitz serves as Executive Vice President & Chief Credit Officer at ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., where he leads the bank's credit risk management, underwriting, and portfolio oversight functions. With over 25 years of experience in commercial banking, Javitz has built a distinguished career focused on mitigating credit risks while supporting sustainable business growth. Prior to joining ConnectOne in 2018, he held senior credit roles at prominent institutions such as Valley National Bank and Hudson City Bancorp, where he honed his expertise in analyzing complex commercial loans, managing non-performing assets, and navigating economic downturns. Under Javitz's leadership, ConnectOne has maintained a robust credit quality profile, evidenced by low net charge-offs and strong asset quality metrics even amid challenging market conditions like the COVID-19 pandemic. His strategic initiatives have included implementing advanced credit analytics tools and enhancing risk rating methodologies, which contributed to the bank's recognition as a top performer in asset quality by industry analysts. Javitz's proactive approach to portfolio diversification and stress testing has been instrumental in supporting ConnectOne's expansion into new markets while upholding stringent regulatory standards. As Chief Credit Officer, Javitz collaborates closely with senior leadership to align credit policies with the bank's growth objectives, fostering a culture of disciplined lending that balances opportunity with prudence. His contributions have been pivotal in ConnectOne's consistent profitability and shareholder value creation, positioning the organization as a leader in community banking. Javitz holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University and is an active member of the Risk Management Association (RMA).