Greg Warsek
Executive Vice President, Head of Commercial Real Estate & Facilities
Commercial Real Estate
Associated Bank
Chicago
As Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Real Estate & Facilities for the Chicago office of Associated Bank, Greg Warsek has established himself as a visionary leader in commercial real estate finance.
Overseeing 13 teams across 11 production offices in eight states, Warsek manages a commercial real estate portfolio exceeding $11 billion in commitments. Under his guidance, these exceptionally talented teams have closed over $10 billion in financing within the last four years, supporting transformative commercial real estate projects across the upper Midwest and Texas.
Warsek’s leadership journey with Associated Bank began in 2002 when he established the Chicago Commercial Real Estate office. Two years later, he launched the St. Louis Commercial Real Estate Loan Production Office.
His efforts have grown into a robust network of offices in key markets such as Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Detroit, and Houston. Warsek’s creation of three distinct Chicago-based teams—the Institutional, REIT, and Chicago Middle Market groups—has significantly expanded Associated Bank’s capabilities, with these groups now managing a $4.7 billion portfolio.
The Institutional group focuses on providing tailored banking and lending solutions to real estate investment funds, operating companies, and corporate real estate service firms. The REIT group boasts a well-diversified $2.4 billion portfolio, serving approximately 55 public REIT clients nationwide. Meanwhile, the Chicago Middle Market team is dedicated to supporting local developers and projects, reinforcing Associated Bank’s strong regional presence.
“I’ve always loved commercial real estate,” Warsek said. “I grew up in the family business, buying, rehabbing, and leasing residential properties. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to help clients achieve their goals by financing numerous construction projects. Some of those client relationships span more than 30 years, and together, we’ve navigated many milestones.”
Central to Warsek’s success is his commitment to building trust and delivering exceptional service.
“We focus on doing what we say we’ll do, providing ‘certainty of execution’ so our clients see us as trusted advisors,” he said. “Developing and retaining the most talented commercial real estate banking team and empowering them to respond decisively to client needs are key to our success.”
With a career spanning over 37 years, Warsek’s industry influence is widely recognized. His accolades include serving as an Executive Advisory Board Member for DePaul University’s Driehaus School of Business Real Estate Center and as an Advisory Board Member for Marquette University’s Vieth Institute for Real Estate. He also contributes to the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Annual CRE Award Fundraiser and is an active member of organizations such as NAIOP, ULI, and NAREIT.
Beyond his professional achievements, Warsek values family time with his wife and three daughters. Whether exploring new destinations or enjoying outdoor activities, he embraces every opportunity to create meaningful experiences.
