American Momentum Bank has hired Steve Watts as senior vice president for commercial real estate.

Watts will be responsible for developing relationships with large commercial real estate developers and homebuilders throughout the Southwest Florida region.

Watts has nearly 10 years of experience in commercial real estate banking, first with National City Bank in Cleveland, and then with Fifth Third Bank in Naples, where he served as vice president for commercial real estate.

Watts joins a team of professionals led by John D. Clark, president of American Momentum’s Southwest Florida Region.

“We are continuing to build a team that can exceed the expectations of the Southwest Florida business community,” said Clark. “With the addition of Steve Watts, American Momentum is uniquely equipped to serve area real estate developers.”

Watts earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of

Akron, and an MBA in Finance from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

American Momentum Bank is a Florida-based independent bank with corporate headquarters in Tampa and regional headquarters in Naples and Orlando to date.

Currently, banking centers are open in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Naples, and Orlando.