Nicholas Ceto, Jr. founded Ceto and Associates in 1994 after retiring from KPMG, where he served as the National Partner in Charge of their Revenue Enhancement Consulting Services. His professional career before founding Ceto included management consulting engagements with more than 1,000 bank clients across the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, and other countries, covering virtually every phase of banking activity.
Nick’s journey began with humble beginnings. Raised by his immigrant father, who came to America from Italy through Ellis Island, Nick grew up in a household built on hard work and determination. His father opened a local barber shop with little education or knowledge of English, working tirelessly to support his family. Nick worked alongside his father as a young boy, sweeping floors and shining shoes for customers.
The barber shop became an early source of inspiration. Nick listened intently to conversations among customers, including doctors, lawyers, and bankers. The stories told by the bankers—helping families buy homes, start small businesses, and achieve dreams—captured his imagination. These experiences ignited his passion for banking and inspired his career path.
Nick earned his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College and a full scholarship to Wharton Business School’s MBA program to pursue his vision. This strong educational foundation launched an illustrious career, during which he achieved numerous significant milestones, including:
- Developing and implementing revenue enhancement programs in over 150 of the nation’s largest commercial banks.
- Creating a Deposit Reclassification methodology, approved by the Federal Reserve System, which increased earning assets by nearly $20 billion for over 2,000 banks and credit unions.
- Serving as a consultant to the Federal Reserve System on check collection issues, including Regulations D and CC.
- Assisting in the formation and operation of the Central Bank of Spain, encompassing system design, organizational framework, and a five-year socioeconomic plan.
- Reorganizing internal audit departments for major multi-bank holding companies to enhance effectiveness, with a focus on loan review and data processing.
Upon retiring from KPMG, Nick decided to leverage his extensive experience to create a company focused on strengthening the profitability of regional and community banks and credit unions. Drawing from both his professional expertise and his early life lessons at the barber shop, he understood the transformative role of banking in helping people achieve their dreams and fostering prosperity within communities.
Today, Ceto has over 2,000 regional and community bank and credit union clients across all 50 states. With more than 25 years of experience, Ceto acts as a trusted partner to the banking community, staying true to Nick’s vision: empowering banks and credit unions with intelligence and innovative solutions to drive profitability and growth, enhance shareholder value, and build stronger communities.
Under the leadership of his son, Douglas Ceto, Nick's mission continues to thrive. Douglas spent over 20 years working alongside Nick, helping to grow the company into a nationally recognized leader. Appointed President and CEO in 2020, Douglas has driven the company into a new era of innovation and growth.
Under Douglas's innovative leadership, Ceto has reached new heights. In 2023, the company completed its first acquisition of DMI, bringing vendor contract negotiation expertise in-house. In 2024, Douglas successfully led the acquisition of VPC, enhancing Ceto’s capabilities in core optimization and integration services. That same year, Ceto launched its first cloud-based solution, Nova, a testament to its forward-thinking approach to modern banking challenges.
Douglas remains committed to strengthening the financial performance of regional and community banks and credit unions, ensuring they can continue to enrich their communities. Under his guidance, Ceto remains steadfast in its mission to empower financial institutions with intelligence and innovation, driving growth and fostering local prosperity.