December 2025

Cross River Founder Gilles Gade: Banking with Heart and Purpose

Gilles Gade is a banker who truly understands fintech as Cross River Bank was one of the first banks to go deep in bank-fintech partnerships. Blue Dot Investors hosted an intimate dinner with Gilles Gade, the Founder and CEO of Cross River Bank. For those who follow fintech and embedded banking, Cross River needs little introduction. It's the technology-driven infrastructure powering some of the industry's most innovative companies. But spending an evening with Gilles offered something far more valuable than a discussion of APIs and embedded finance: a window into the philosophy and values that have guided Cross River since its founding.

Dinner Series

An Unconventional Path

Gilles Gade's path to banking is anything but conventional. Born and raised in Paris, he began his career in 1990 at Citi before building an impressive resume across some of Wall Street's most prestigious institutions, including Bear Stearns and Barclays.

But it was 2008, in the depths of the financial crisis, when Gilles made his most consequential decision: founding Cross River Bank.

Standing by Customers

At dinner, Gilles also shared some remarkable stories that illustrate Cross River's approach to banking. He spoke about backing customers during near-death moments, those critical junctures when other institutions would have walked away. He recounted the intense early days of COVID-19, when Cross River quickly pivoted to become one of the most prolific Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lenders in the country.

The Story Behind the Name

The story behind Cross River's name itself reveals Gilles's thoughtfulness. While he didn't elaborate on the full origin story at dinner, he did share how the name came to be—an ancient biblical detail that reflects the same care and intention he brings to every aspect of the business.

"We do well when, and because, we do good. Charity isn't something done out of the goodness of one's heart—it's the right thing to do. Period."
— Gilles Gade, Founder & CEO of Cross River Bank

Philanthropy as Strategy

What was most striking about the evening wasn't any particular business insight or industry trend—it was Gilles's unwavering commitment to charitable giving, even during the most challenging times. In an industry where philanthropy often takes a backseat during downturns, Cross River has made it central to their strategy.

Gilles shared that at Cross River, they have made charitable giving an integral part of their strategy. They believe their success is tied to the level of philanthropy and volunteerism they engage in, and does not depend on past performance. They do well when, and because, they do good. For Gilles, charity isn't something done out of the goodness of one's heart—it's the right thing to do. Period.

Banking with Purpose

As Cross River continues to shape the future of financial services through its technology and partnerships, it's clear that Gilles Gade's greatest innovation isn't just technical—it's showing an entire industry what banking with heart and purpose looks like.

Cross River Founder Gilles Gade: Banking with Heart and Purpose

An Unconventional Path

Standing by Customers

The Story Behind the Name

Philanthropy as Strategy

Banking with Purpose

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