Canada-based bank Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has invested in StoneCastle Partners, an investment firm which backs community banks.
StoneCastle was backed by private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners in 2007.
StoneCastle was founded in 2003, and manages more than $4bn in assets.
Joshua Siegel, managing principal of StoneCastle Partners, said: “We are very pleased to have CIBC, one of the world’s strongest banks as an investor in our company. After achieving rapid growth in assets under management in 2011, we are on pace for an even stronger year in 2012. CIBC’s support is a vote of confidence in our community bank focused strategy and will help us move our business to the next level.”