Robert Krasne
Customers BancorpAbout Robert Krasne
Robert Krasne joined Customers Bancorp, Inc. (CUBI) as a non‑employee director effective October 29, 2025. He is Co‑Chair of The Steinman Foundation and Chair and former Chief Executive Officer of Steinman Communications. He holds an A.B. in Economics from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. The Company disclosed no related‑party transactions under Item 404(a) connected to his appointment, and he will receive the same (pro‑rated) compensation as other non‑employee directors; independence determinations are typically disclosed in the next proxy cycle . He filed an initial Form 3 reporting beneficial ownership as a director on November 12, 2025 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steinman Communications | Chair; former CEO | Not disclosed | Media company leadership (company-provided bio) |
| The Steinman Foundation | Co‑Chair | Not disclosed | Philanthropic leadership (company-provided bio) |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Steinman Foundation | Co‑Chair | Private foundation | Disclosed in CUBI 8‑K appointment filing |
| Steinman Communications | Chair; former CEO | Private | Disclosed in CUBI 8‑K appointment filing |
Board Governance
- Appointment and status: Appointed to CUBI board effective October 29, 2025; non‑employee director; no Item 404(a) related‑party transactions disclosed; entitled to standard non‑employee director compensation pro‑rated through FY25 .
- Subsidiary board: Effective October 29, 2025, also serves as director of Customers Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary .
- Committee assignments: Not yet disclosed in filings as of his appointment (to be clarified in next proxy).
- Board structure and cadence (context): Board held 17 meetings in 2024 with directors attending 92% of full Board meetings and 92% of applicable committee meetings; the Board is scheduled to meet monthly . Lead Independent Director role and responsibilities are defined and were held by Daniel K. Rothermel during 2024 .
- Committees overview (context): Standing committees include Directors’ Risk, Audit, Leadership Development & Compensation (LD&CC), Nominating & Corporate Governance (N&CG), Regulatory Affairs, and CSR; committee charters available on company website .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount/Structure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $70,000 (paid quarterly) | Directors may elect 0%, 50%, or 100% of cash in stock |
| Annual equity grant | 2,500 shares of Voting Common Stock under 2019 Stock Plan | Subject to plan limits below |
| Additional chair fees | Lead Independent Director: $35,000; Audit Chair: $30,000; LD&CC Chair: $15,000; N&CG Chair: $15,000; Directors’ Risk/CSR/Regulatory Affairs/Bank Compliance Chairs: $10,000 | Applies if/when serving as chair |
| Plan limit (non‑employee director) | Max total (cash + stock) $200,000 per year ($300,000 for Lead Independent Director) | Caps total director compensation |
| Other benefits | None; no director retirement plan or fee deferral programs | — |
Note: 9/26/25 8‑K states that compensation for new appointees (including Mr. Krasne) will be the same as generally provided to non‑employee directors and pro‑rated for the remainder of the year .
Performance Compensation
- Directors at CUBI receive retainers and time‑based equity; no director‑level performance metrics or option awards are disclosed for directors in the latest proxy . Executive performance metrics (NIM, liquidity coverage to uninsured deposits, CET1) apply to NEO incentives, not directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Ticker | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | The appointment 8‑K does not list any public company board roles for Mr. Krasne . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Legal and governance: J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center; senior leadership and board roles in media and philanthropy .
- Business leadership: Former CEO and current Chair of Steinman Communications; Co‑Chair of The Steinman Foundation .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Security | Amount | Ownership Form | % of Shares Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert M. Krasne | Common Stock | 115 shares | Direct (D) | ~0.0003% (115 / 34,163,506 shares outstanding as of 9/30/25) |
Additional ownership and alignment policies (apply to all non‑management directors):
- Stock ownership guideline: 5x annual cash retainer, to be met within 5 years of appointment; must maintain while serving and for 1 year post‑service .
- Hedging prohibition: Hedging transactions in Company securities are prohibited for officers, directors, and employees .
- Insider trading policy: Pre‑clearance and compliance overseen by the General Counsel; annual acknowledgment required .
Vested vs. unvested; options; pledging:
- No options, RSUs, or pledging were reported for Mr. Krasne in his initial Form 3 (only 115 common shares reported) .
Insider Filings and Trades
| Date Filed | Form | Event/Effective Date | Reported Holdings/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2025 | Form 3 | Event date Oct 29, 2025 | Initial statement of beneficial ownership as director; 115 common shares, direct |
Governance Assessment
- Independence and conflicts: Mr. Krasne is a non‑employee director; the Company disclosed no related‑party transactions under Item 404(a) related to his appointment, supporting independence from management and low conflict risk; formal NYSE independence determination expected in the next proxy .
- Alignment: He is subject to CUBI’s robust director stock ownership guideline (5x retainer within 5 years) and anti‑hedging policy, which enhance long‑term alignment .
- Board effectiveness context: CUBI’s board structure features an active cadence (monthly meetings), defined lead independent director responsibilities, and comprehensive committee coverage; 2024 board and committee attendance averaged 92% (Mr. Krasne joined after 2024) .
- Director compensation practices: Balanced cash and equity with reasonable annual limits ($200k standard cap; $300k for Lead Independent Director); no director pensions or deferral programs (limits pay inflation risk and avoids entrenchment) .
- RED FLAGS monitored: None disclosed for Mr. Krasne to date (no related‑party transactions, no pledging disclosed, and no hedging permitted) . Continued monitoring will include committee assignments, subsequent ownership changes, and any related‑party disclosures in the 2026 proxy.
Key Company Governance Context (for investor confidence)
- Say‑on‑Pay: 97% approval at 2024 annual meeting, indicating strong shareholder support of pay practices .
- Board composition and independence (2024 roster): 7 of 8 directors independent; varied expertise across finance, law, technology, and risk; independence to be reassessed with new 2025 appointees in the next proxy .
Open Items To Update When Available
- Committee assignments and any chair roles for Mr. Krasne (not yet disclosed) .
- 2025/2026 director compensation actual grants/values for Mr. Krasne (will appear in next DEF 14A).
- Independence determination in the next proxy and attendance record for 2025.
Sources: Appointment and background, compensation pro‑ration, and absence of related‑party transactions . Initial beneficial ownership Form 3 (115 shares) . Director compensation structure and limits . Ownership and hedging policies . Board cadence and attendance . Lead Independent Director responsibilities . Shares outstanding as of 9/30/25 .