BankFinancial Corp. reaches agreement with investor

Burr Ridge, Ill.-based BankFinancial Corp. reached a standstill agreement with investment firm Strategic Value Bank Partners, LLC, and Strategic Value Investors LP. .As part of the agreement, Strategic Value Bank Partners Co-Founder and Managing Partner Benjamin Mackovak was named a director. Mackovak has experience as a board member of other community banks and thrifts. He's held senior leadership positions and has experience with several investment advisory and analysis firms..Aaron O'Connor also joined the board of the $1.5 billion company. A partner with Bridge CPA LLC, O'Connor was formerly a partner at Elgin, Ill.-based public accounting firm PKF Mueller and a financial services partner with Chicago-based public accounting firm Crowe LLP. O'Connor has served on the board of directors of BankFinancial NA since January 2023..BankFinancial Chair and CEO Morgan Gasior said the addition of O'Connor and Mackovak "contributes additional financial services expertise and experience, and in the case of Mackovak, continues our practice of institutional investor/shareholder representation on the board."