Paul Evangelista

Executive Vice President of Consumer Lending and Payments

Needham Bank

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Paul Evangelista is the Executive Vice President of Consumer Lending and Payments at Needham Bank, where he anchors one of the nation's premier cannabis banking divisions. A true pioneer in the sector, Paul launched one of the country's first compliant cannabis banking programs in 2013 during his tenure at Century Bank. He later transitioned the entire specialized team to Eastern Bank, and subsequently to Needham Bank in 2022, ensuring seamless continuity and uncompromised compliance infrastructure for hundreds of operators across the country.

With over three decades of banking experience, including notable foundational roles at institutions like BayBank, Paul has spent the last 13 years managing complex, multi-state cannabis relationships. Under his strategic leadership, Needham Bank has expanded its specialized footprint to serve approximately 500 cannabis-related clients operating across 25 states. Paul is widely respected for his deep expertise in navigation of the strict regulatory compliance guardrails, utilizing advanced tech-forward monitoring systems to provide long-term, scalable, and secure financial infrastructure to an evolving marketplace. He holds a degree from Boston College and actively serves his community as the Treasurer of The Gifford School Board.