Cross River Achieves Milestone with $288 Million Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Transaction

Transaction marks Cross River as one of the first technology-driven banks to complete a securitization of seasoned commercial real estate assets

FORT LEE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cross River Bank (“Cross River”), a New Jersey State chartered FDIC-insured bank and Equal Housing Lender known for its Commercial Banking Group (CBG) and real estate lending platform, has completed a milestone $288 million commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) transaction. The securitization converts a seasoned pool of commercial real estate loans into bonds purchased by a range of institutional investors, broadening Cross River’s funding base and freeing balance-sheet capacity to support continued loan origination.

The deal underscores the Bank’s strategy to diversify funding beyond traditional deposits and build consistent access to capital markets, strengthening liquidity and capital efficiency. The underlying loans were originated by Cross River’s Commercial Banking Group. The Sole Lead Manager and Sole Bookrunner of the transaction was Cantor Fitzgerald, with Greystone Structured Products serving as the Advisor and Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft serving as issuer’s counsel. The senior tranches of the CMBS were rated AAA by Moody’s and Morningstar DBRS, reflecting the agencies’ assessments of the transaction’s structure and credit characteristics.

“This transaction is a major step forward in our capital and funding strategy,” said Shimon Eisikowicz, Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer, and Head of the Commercial Banking Group at Cross River. “It showcases our ability to originate, structure, and bring institutional-quality assets to market, while creating new avenues to support our clients and manage growth.”

“Diversification of funding is central to our long-term vision,” said Bhavik Khatri, Vice President of Syndications at Cross River.

By bringing assets to institutional investors, Cross River continues to expand its role in the capital markets arena while executing on its broader strategic goal: a sustainable, diversified funding platform that supports future growth across its commercial lending businesses.

About Cross River Commercial Banking Group

Cross River’s Commercial Banking Group (“CBG”) assists property owners, investors, brokers, and institutions in identifying and accessing the right loan and banking products. The Group leverages technology coupled with a streamlined approval process, often resulting in more expeditious closing times and specializes in the following loan and asset classes:

The Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) division focuses on the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania metro areas servicing a variety of asset classes and loans ranging from $250,000 to more than $100 million. Asset classes include multifamily, retail, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, fractured condos, co-ops and investment properties. The CRE division also originates and services construction and bridge loans for ground-up construction, renovation, land acquisition, and partially or fully vacant properties.

The group’s Lender Finance (“LF”) platform is designed to reach an expanded national audience, complementing Cross River’s existing commercial real estate business providing note-on-note and warehouse lines of credit to bank and non-bank lenders and partners in all 50 states.

The group’s Healthcare Lending (“HC”) team focuses on term loans and bridge loans secured by various types of healthcare properties nationally.

The group’s Business Lending Services (“BLS”) is designed to provide transparent loan origination and processing on a full suite of Small Business Administration (SBA) and Conventional business loan programs.