David Rozon, associate vice-president of technology banking for Ontario, is going to Scotiabank. Brent Layton, a managing director whose remit includes technology and sustainability banking, will join CIBC. (Globe and Mail)

Talking point: National Bank’s technology division has lost a number of top employees in recent months as rivals are showing a greater interest in the tech sector. National Bank is still a key player when it comes to tech financing: the company co-led an equity raise by Shopify in 2019 and was a lead underwriter for Lightspeed’s IPO earlier this year. Competition in the space is heating up with BMO and CIBC in particular looking to sign more deals with tech companies. In August 2018, CIBC poached Eric Laflamme from National Bank to lead the Quebec region of its innovation banking division. The banks’ increasing interest in startup financing is bringing them head to head with Silicon Valley Bank, which got a license to operate in Canada in March. Earlier this month, CIBC got a US$55-million credit facility for Lightspeed, taking over a US$15-million credit facility that Silicon Valley Bank had been providing.