Cogent Bank has diversified its products and services lineup by launching four new teams focused on cannabis banking, blockchain-enabled companies, premium finance lending and public finance. The full-service, commercial bank considers its efforts to support these client-focused niches as an investment in the future of banking.

“Cogent Bank continues to expand our personalized services to meet the unique needs of each business,” said Brandon Box, Cogent’s Southwest Florida market president. “Growing into different, innovative and diversified verticals allow our seasoned bankers to drive results for our clients.”

For instance, Cogent plans to work with the high-growth cannabis market to provide banking solutions to growers, manufacturers, distributors, dispensaries and other related industries and professionals. The company leaders’ years of experience coupled with the board of directors and regulatory support will provide the required knowledge to serve the unique challenges of cannabis-related businesses, Cogent reports.   

The bank also has a grasp of the risks, dynamics, fund flows, decentralized organizations, blockchain integration, protocol development and evolving regulatory landscape behind blockchain-based payments that are crucial to client success in this vertical. 

Of course, Cogent’s expansion is not limited to nontraditional services. The bank understands while the industry may be evolving, it is still essential to support and expand traditional banking services.  

Cogent now offers premium finance lending to insurance agents to help their clients pay for business insurance premiums ranging in price from $500 to $26 million. The underwriting process is streamlined and the rates are competitive, Cogent reports.    

The bank’s public finance vertical supports local, county and state governments as well as entities such as school districts, and water, sewer and utility authorities. This division serves the unique financial requirements of the public sector nationally, meeting operational needs and maximizing taxpayer dollars with full-service solutions designed for government entities.  

Cogent is a state-chartered bank that has operated as a full-service business and personal bank since 2001. With more than $1 billion in total assets, Cogent offers multiple banking centers in North and Central Florida and recently expanded into Southwest Florida.