Born October 14, 1956 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Nick Certo earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Washington and Jefferson College in 1978 and attended the University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business.

Nick began his banking career as a trainee in the Corporate Banking division of PNC Financial Corp in 1981. He rose to vice president and manager of Corporate Banking in the Western US. In 1992 Nick moved to Retail Banking where he assumed leadership roles in consumer lending, credit policy, business banking and national sales. He advanced to senior vice president in 1994. Beginning in 2007 Nick assumed responsibility for University and WorkPlace Banking which developed exclusive contractual arrangements with thousands of businesses and over 60 universities and colleges to bring PNC Bank consumer products and services to campuses, employees and students. The two businesses combined accounted for the majority of new consumer customers PNC won each year.

After a 40-year career at PNC Nick retired in 2020. Nick and his wife, Tracy, raised two sons in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where they currently reside. The Certos are avid readers, enjoy travel, skiing, outdoor sports, cycling and recently took up pickleball.

Nick has served several not-for-profit organizations including 6 years as a board member and treasurer of A Second Chance Inc. and 7 years as a board member and treasurer of CeasefirePA. He is currently a board member of Achieving The Dream, and a trustee of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.