Open the Gate

David Seleski chuckles when he's reminded of his five minutes of fame on NBC's “Today” show in October 2009.

The network interviewed the president and CEO of Stonegate Bank on the national TV morning show because it was acquiring the 100th failed bank during the crisis: tiny Partners Bank in Naples with $66 million in assets.

At the time, Stonegate wasn't very big, either. The Pompano Beach-based bank had $375 million in assets and was barely profitable.