Mr. Lynch has more than 45 years of banking experience. Prior to Patriot, Mr. Lynch served as Vice Chairman of Sovereign Bancorp 2005 – 2007, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Bank – Mid Atlantic Division from 2002 – 2007. From 2001 – 2002, Mr. Lynch served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fleet Bank in Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. From 1999 – 2001, Mr. Lynch was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Summit Bank in Pennsylvania, and Senior Executive Vice President at Summit Bancorp. Prior to that, he was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Bank; President and Vice Chairman of Continental Bancorp, and Executive Vice President of Midlantic Bank (formerly Continental Bank).

A graduate of LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Mr. Lynch was a longtime member, and past Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees. In 2004, Mr. Lynch received LaSalle’s prestigious John J. Finley, ’24 Alumni Award for his outstanding dedication to the University. In 1999, LaSalle University presented Mr. Lynch with its Leadership Award, which is given annually to an individual who has displayed outstanding leadership in corporate, civic, government or religious fields. He has also been inducted into the Father Judge High School and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic Youth Organization Hall of Fame.

Mr. Lynch is active in several professional and civic organizations. Mr. Lynch is a board member and trustee of the Holy Redeemer Health System and he is a founding board member and current Chairman of LaSalle Academy, a private inner city elementary school serving economically disadvantaged children in Philadelphia. He is a current board member of The Union League of Philadelphia.

Mr. Lynch’s strong dedication to his community has not gone unnoticed. Among the many honors that he has received, Mr. Lynch has been awarded the Richard J. Caron Award of Excellence from the Caron Foundation, was the recipient of the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia Touching a Life Award, has received the Philadelphia Eagles Fly for Leukemia Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named Banker of the Year by the Philadelphia chapter of the Risk Management Association for his contributions to the commercial lending profession.