Bank / Credit Union

Millennium Bank adds former Chicago Deputy Mayor to board

Photo: Moti Agarwal, Himal Agarwal, Nicholas Dizonno and Samir Mayekar provided by Millennium Bank.

September 13, 2024

Millennium Bank, based in Chicago, named Samir Mayekar, former deputy mayor of Chicago, to its board of directors, according to a press release.

He previously served in this role for economic development under Mayor Lori Lightfoot. He was also the former CEO of NanoGraf Corp.

"Samir brings a diverse set of experiences to Millennium Bank," Himal Agarwal, vice chairman of the board, Millennium Bank, said in the release. "His commitment to Chicago, his unique expertise at the highest levels of federal and local government, and his perspective as a South Asian founder of a successful start-up will help guide the bank as it explores new opportunities and serves new industries and communities."

"Since 2020, Millennium Bank has more than doubled in size, and that means the bank needs to strengthen its governance and prepare to scale," Agarwal said in the release. "Samir brings this level of leadership. He will help the bank to further reach into the city of Chicago and help disseminate our message and mission more broadly. There are over 350 community banks in the state of Illinois, and only five of these institutions, including Millennium Bank, are minority-owned, so we have a duty to service underserved and traditionally disadvantaged small business customers."