Matthew E. Hummel has led KeyBank’s Connecticut and western Massachusetts market since 2020, overseeing commercial banking and representing the bank in both states. He joined KeyBank in 2020 with more than three decades of commercial banking experience and previously worked in Bank of America’s Global Commercial Banking group.
In 2025, KeyBank marked its bicentennial and continued expanding in Connecticut, where it entered the market in 2016 through the acquisition of First Niagara. Hummel said the region ranked among the bank’s top 10 markets, and home lending closed the year with its best month on record. He also highlighted community engagement, including 175 employees volunteering at 17 nonprofits during Neighbors Make the Difference Day.
Looking ahead, Hummel said housing affordability remains both a challenge and opportunity, noting the need for expanded education, job and housing options to support long-term economic growth in the state.
What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today?
It is pretty simple: create clarity, fuel collaboration and empower people so that the team’s collective talent becomes the driving force behind every strategic win. We go to market as a team.
What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut?
I’ve been in Connecticut my entire career and life. I grew up in Southbury, now live in Glastonbury, and my first job was at Connecticut National Bank. I’m hometown biased, of course, but I genuinely believe if Connecticut’s not the best state to raise a family, then it’s easily one of the top states for doing so. A big reason for that is we have such a successful economic backbone, and our strong banking industry is the heartbeat.
What is one change that would make Connecticut more competitive economically?
I have adult kids and mentor a number of younger adults. I see firsthand the economic challenges in not having affordable housing and the impact this has on buying a house and deciding if/when/where to have families. I would like to see real progress in this area. Our state is great. We need to expand on opportunities for people to live, work and raise families here. The jobs are out there.
Check out the other 2026 Power Players
Book recommendation: “Exodus” by Leon Uris; “Trinity” by Leon Uris; “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Go-to news media outlets: Hartford Business Journal, WSJ and NYT
Hobby or leisure activity: Golfing with friends and road biking