A well-known Cuban banker dies in Miami

April 1, 2020

The prominent Cuban-American banker Carlos J. Arboleya died on Sunday at age 91 in Miami, the city he helped develop as founder and executive of banks, offering loans and educating the first exiles in financial processes that were unknown to them.

Among the numerous awards and recognitions of a distinguished career in the United States, Arboleya (Havana, 1929) was the first naturalized Cuban American to reach the presidency of a national bank.

He also founded his own bank, Flagler Bank, which became part of Bank of America.

After selling his financial interests in that institution, he joined Barnett Bank in 1974, and the following year assumed the presidency. This bank later became Bank of America, where Arboleya became vice president and chief of financial operations in 1981. He retired in 1994, though he remained as president of the executive committee until 1996.

Arboleya was hospitalized a few weeks ago after an episode of flu. He recovered enough to return home, but his health failed again. He died at 8 a.m. on Sunday at his home