Big U.S. Bet Pays Off for CIBC With Earnings Ahead of Target

A year after buying Chicago-based PrivateBank in its biggest ever acquisition, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s U.S. foray is already exceeding its expectations. CIBC’s U.S. head Larry Richman -- the veteran Chicago banking executive who migrated with the $5 billion acquisition completed in June 2017 -- said he’s driving a “strong and steady" expansion under the wings of Canada’s fifth-largest lender by assets. “We feel like we’ve got some major things to accomplish," Richman, 66, said in an interview from his personal conference room at CIBC’s newly adopted U.S. headquarters in Chicago.