NEW YORK – April 23, 2026 – SMBC Americas today announced that Mark Kruzel has joined the firm as Head of Banks, as SMBC continues to expand and strengthen its Americas business.

A managing director based in New York, Mark will work with bank clients across a range of products and balance sheet strategies, including loan sales, risk transfer, and capital recycling and deployment. Drawing on deep sector experience, Mark will work across the firm to deliver innovative solutions for clients across asset classes, reporting to Shane Klein, Head of Global Financial Institutions Group (GFIG), and part of the firm’s Private Debt Complex.

Mark brings more than a decade of experience working with banks across balance sheet, capital, and asset optimization strategies. Most recently, he served as Head of Bank Coverage and Origination at PIMCO, covering U.S., Canadian, and European banks, and executing a range of transactions, including significant risk transfer transactions (SRTs), asset sales, and broader balance sheet management initiatives. Prior to that, Mark held senior roles at Citi, including Head of North America Bank Solutions and Latin America Financial Solutions.

“Mark’s experience at the intersection of banking, capital markets, and private debt will help SMBC deepen relationships with financial institutions and expand our origination and distribution capabilities,” said Paul Burke, Executive Officer, Head of Private Debt Complex, SMBC Americas. “His leadership will further strengthen our ability to deliver thoughtful, well-structured solutions to clients while supporting continued growth.”

About SMBC Group
SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC
Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 150 offices and 120,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and ADRs on the New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities Canada, Ltd., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. (collectively, SMBC Group Americas Division).

For more information, please visit www.smbcgroup.com.

Contact: MediaRelationsAmericas@smbcgroup.com