ORLANDO—BankUnited just made what it calls two “key new hires” in Orlando. The hires making the bank's Central Florida commercial real estate finance team its largest in Florida.

BankUnited brought on board Steven Markowski and Ted Kunkel. The new hires also expand its corporate banking team just one year after the market launch of its wholesale banking division.

“We see room for growth in Orlando and Central Florida as the region continues to broaden its base of business beyond tourism and hospitality into a more fully-integrated economic spectrum of businesses,” says Thomas Cornish, state president of Florida. “Orlando is a priority market for BankUnited as we look to grow our portfolio in this region from $600 million to the billion dollar range within a couple of years.”

Markowski was named senior vice president for commercial real estate lending. A 26-year veteran of commercial real estate lending in Orlando, Markowski comes to BankUnited from Wells Fargo, where he served most recently as senior vice president, office manager, and team leader. Markowski will be responsible for commercial real estate loan production, deposit growth, private banking and treasury management services.

Kunkel is serving as vice president of business lending. With over 16 years of experience in wealth management underwriting, corporate finance strategies and commercial lending, Kunkel joins BankUnited from Iberia Bank, formerly Old Florida National Bank, in Orlando. There he served most recently as vice president of commercial banking.

“Steven and Ted join an already strong BankUnited team of CRE lenders and commercial bankers here in Orlando, and we look forward to the vital role they will play as we expand our corporate and commercial real estate banking services in the market,” says Michael McClanahan, Orlando market executive. BankUnited, one of the largest independent depository institutions headquartered in Florida by assets, consistently ranks as one of the top regional banks in Florida and the nation, and is third on Forbes Magazine's list of "Best Banks in America 2015."