Port of call

Longtime Florida banker Hal Roberts tries to treat banking industry gatherings like something bigger than a schmooze fest.

“But sometimes you bump into people,” says Roberts, “and you get to like certain people.”

The president and COO of Indiantown-based Harbor Community Bank, Roberts bumped into Bradenton bankers Dan Hager and Allen Langford at a Florida Bankers Association conference in West Pam Beach late last year. Hager is chairman and CEO of Bradenton-based First America Bank, where Langford is president. Those initial friendly chats sparked more conversations and lunches with board members at both banks, dialogue that culminated in October when Harbor Community acquired First America.