Chairman John Tsunis adds CEO title at Gold Coast Bank

Privately held Gold Coast Bank of Islandia Thursday said its chairman of the board, John Tsunis, had replaced Joseph Perri as chief executive.

Perri, 62, of Plainview, also held the title of president. He said in an interview, "I had gotten the bank to a certain point and just felt it was time to pursue a number of different interests."

Tsunis, a prominent attorney, real estate developer and hotel manager, remains chairman.

James P. Johnis, who joined Gold Coast earlier this month, was named president and chief operating officer. Johnis had been senior vice president and commercial banking officer at First National Bank of Long Island in Glen Head.

Last month, Gold Coast reported that net interest income had propelled its first quarter earnings up 39 percent over the first three months of last year, to $142,000. Per share, the net income translated to 5 cents, the same as a year earlier because more stock was issued in the interim, said Gold Coast, which opened in 2008 and has five branches.

Total assets were $252 million as of March 31, up 10 percent from a year earlier.

Perri said last month that the bank had hired former New York mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis, the supermarket magnate, for its advisory board.

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Perri had been chief executive since 2009. He also had worked previously at First National of Long Island.