Fred Cummings

Fred Cummings is the President and Founder of Elizabeth Park Capital Management. He serves as Portfolio Manager for the privately-held, alternative asset management firm focused on long/short equity, event-driven, and customized investment opportunities in the banking sector. The firm supports community bank technology investment through a partnership with Strandview Capital and the Btech Consortium Fund. The firm is the investment manager for the Mission Driven Bank Fund that invests in CDFIs and MDIs throughout the country. Fred serves on the investment committee for the Btech Consortium Fund and the Mission Driven Bank Fund.

Mr. Cummings is an investment and banking portfolio manager with 30+ years’ industry experience leading disciplined, client-focused investment practices. His esteemed performance establishes him as a principled bellwether across the investing and banking industry. His singular focus on banks paired with his curated approach to investing, M&A, and risk analysis transcends the Elizabeth Park mission to be the best bank investment firm in the country.

Prior to founding Elizabeth Park, Fred achieved a distinguished 17-year career at KeyBanc Capital Markets as one of the sell-side’s foremost Senior Analysts covering the banking sector. He additionally served as a Senior Analyst for FSI Group, a financial services hedge fund. He launched his career at McDonald & Co. as a sell-side Junior Analyst.

Fred earned his BA in Economics with honors from Oberlin College. He actively supports Oberlin’s Connect Cleveland Initiative and Business Scholars Speaking Program as an honored guest speaker for 23 consecutive years. He is an alumnus and ardent supporter of Western Reserve Academy (WRA). Fred dedicates his time serving on several boards, including Blue Owl Real Estate Net Lease Trust, The Marshall Project, and Nirvana Analytics. He serves as an investment committee member for Western Reserve Academy and is a former member of Laurel School’s investment committee.

Fred was named 2017’s Crain’s Cleveland Business Who’s Who and Cleveland.com’s People to Watch in 2015. As an industry expert, he has been featured on various media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, INC Magazine, Crain’s Cleveland Business, CNN Money, and was a cited expert in the recently published book by Wiley called “Bank Investing, a Practitioners Field Guide. Fred lives in the Cleveland area with his wife.

Any designation referred to herein was made by a third-party, and although Elizabeth Park has no reason to believe that such designation, or the criteria for being considered for such designation, are inaccurate or misleading, Elizabeth Park has not independently verified the selection process and does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. No compensation was paid in exchange for any such designation.