BankUnited, National Association vs Columbia Bank

As of Q1 2026, Columbia Bank carries a larger commercial real estate loan book than BankUnited, National Association, roughly 3.1× the size — $26.8B versus $8.6B. CRE book size is one gauge of how much lending capacity a bank is actively deploying, though a bigger book is not automatically better for a borrower; what matters is whether the bank is still growing that book and how concentrated it has become.

Both banks are letting their CRE books contract quarter over quarter — BankUnited, National Association is down 0.7% and Columbia Bank is down 1.5%. A shrinking CRE book can signal a lender in run-off mode, tightening credit standards, or working through past-due loans, all of which can make a new loan harder to place.

Columbia Bank is further up the concentration curve at 303% — past the 300% supervisory guideline — while BankUnited, National Association sits lower at 197% with more balance-sheet capacity to keep lending. A borrower may find the less-concentrated bank more receptive to new credit, though concentration is only one of several appetite signals.

BankUnited, National Association carries a higher nonaccrual CRE ratio (1% of its CRE book, versus 0% at the other). Rising nonaccruals consume management attention and provisions and often precede tighter credit standards — a useful caution flag when comparing the two as a potential lender.

County recorded documents show both lenders actively closing commercial loans — 1 recent for BankUnited, National Association and 1 for Columbia Bank. BankUnited, National Association shows the heavier recent activity in the records we track. Filed deeds of trust are the ground truth of a closed, secured loan, so a presence here confirms the bank is writing business, not just quoting it.

The short version: Columbia Bank runs the larger CRE book, BankUnited, National Association is the one still expanding. The right lender for any specific deal still depends on property type, sponsorship, and the current terms each is quoting — the table above and each bank's full profile carry the detail.