John Bratsakis, CUDE

Women SMALL Business Owners, Are You Ready To Do BIGGER Business w/ Major Organizations? If so, join us on June 6, for Supplier Readiness Roundtable by Queen City Women in Business Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank in Partnership w CVMSDC & SBA, Thurs June 6 for a Community info-session for Women Small Businesses w/ Q&A & more. Register Now! https://lnkd.in/gCDsZkCq As a Participant, You Will: -Learn from Women Business Owners what it's like to do business w/major organizations! -Discover if Government Contracting is right for your business! -Hear what Procurement Managers look for in Small Businesses & how to get certified! -Discover organizations currently helping women businesses get prepared & primed for bigger business! Who this is for: This workshop is perfect for diverse women small business owners in business 2 or more years, who are looking to expand their business opportunities by partnering with major organizations. It's particularly beneficial for those interested in corporate or federal government contracting and wanting to understand the certification process and programs for minority women and women of diverse backgrounds. backgrounds. Additionally, it's ideal for women who want to learn from the experiences of other women business owners and gain insights from procurement managers on how to prepare for larger-scale business opportunities. #QCWIB #supplierreadiness #roundtable #womenownedbusinesses #supplierdevelopment

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Loan Readiness Cohort Interest Meeting ↗️🔗 https://lnkd.in/eb8M9jwa Join us for an informative session about our upcoming Loan Readiness Cohort, designed specifically for small business owners looking to secure funding and enhance your business’s financial health. During the meeting, you'll learn about the program's benefits, the application process, and how we can help you improve your loan application success rate. #smallbusiness #catalystcenter #smallbusinessowner #entrepreneur #businesstips #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurtips #loan #businessloan #loanreadiness

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Preparing the next generation of leaders? Developing your successors can help ensure the long-term viability of the family business. Read our blog for insights on identifying suitable successors, setting development goals, and maintaining family harmony! https://ow.ly/HlSi30sHYEi #AmericanBank #TXBank #Succession #Insights #FamilyBusiness #FinancialPlanning #LegacyPlanning

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Prepare your business for the unexpected! ✨ Build an emergency fund to ensure stability during tough times. Aim to save 3-6 months of operating expenses to keep your business secure and thriving. ✅ At UVA Community Credit Union, our elevate Small Business Banking Program is here to support you every step of the way! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eMPCiwJJ #SmallBusinessSuccess #EmergencyFund #BusinessTips #ElevateYourBusiness #FinancialWellness

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) has awarded $408.2 million in Financial Assistance (FA) awards to 357 CDFIs across the country as part of the FY 2024 CDFI and NACA Programs! 🎉 With an unprecedented surge in applications (40% increase in CDFI Program and 30% in NACA Program), these funds will empower CDFIs to expand operations, introduce new services, and drive economic revitalization in underserved communities. 🟢 Highlights: $257.1 million in Base-FA awards to 332 CDFIs in 43 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. $43 million to serve Persistent Poverty Counties (PPC-FA). $48 million for healthy food access (HFFI-FA). $12.95 million for projects assisting individuals with disabilities (DF-FA). Special support for Native American communities through $43.2 million in NACA Program awards. Kudos to the 91 CDFIs receiving their first-ever FA award, making a significant impact on their communities! 🙌 Let’s keep pushing for greater financial inclusion, sustainable growth, and community development. #CommunityFinance #CDFI #EconomicGrowth #FinancialInclusion #NACA #PersistentPovertyCounties #HealthyFoodAccess #ImpactInvesting #CDFIFund #Treasury

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In this inspiring episode of The Currency of Knowledge, we sit down with Joe Williams, CEO and President of County National Bank, who shares his journey from modest beginnings to a position of influence and mentorship. Williams discusses the values instilled in him by his hardworking parents and the lessons he learned from great and challenging leaders. His story highlights the importance of resilience, positivity, and the power of encouragement. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, Williams reveals how wealth extends beyond financial success to encompass purpose, contentment, and the meaningful impact we have on others. https://qr-codes.io/0H4CBt

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United Bank, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), is pleased to announce that UB Community Development, its affiliated Community Development Entity,  has been awarded a $65 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Allocation by the Department of the Treasury. Through the NMTC Program, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund allocates tax credit authority to Community Development Entities (CDEs) through a competitive application process. CDEs are financial intermediaries through which investment capital flows from an investor to a qualified project located in a low-income community.   In total, United Bank and UB Community Development have received seven NMTC awards from the CDFI Fund totaling $425 million focused upon deployment in Alabama and Florida. By being a recognized CDFI, United Bank and UBCD, as a certified Community Development Entity (CDE), will use these funds to support economic development in rural and underserved areas. UBCD will focus upon projects that create accessible jobs, provide access to healthcare, education, or goods & services in these underserved areas.   #BuildingStrongCommunities #NMTC #CDFI #CommunityDevelopment

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United Bank, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), is pleased to announce that UB Community Development, its affiliated Community Development Entity,  has been awarded a $65 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Allocation by the Department of the Treasury. Through the NMTC Program, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund allocates tax credit authority to Community Development Entities (CDEs) through a competitive application process. CDEs are financial intermediaries through which investment capital flows from an investor to a qualified project located in a low-income community.   In total, United Bank and UB Community Development have received seven NMTC awards from the CDFI Fund totaling $425 million focused upon deployment in Alabama and Florida. By being a recognized CDFI, United Bank and UBCD, as a certified Community Development Entity (CDE), will use these funds to support economic development in rural and underserved areas. UBCD will focus upon projects that create accessible jobs, provide access to healthcare, education, or goods & services in these underserved areas.   #BuildingStrongCommunities #NMTC #CDFI #CommunityDevelopment

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Join Lysa Barbano, SVP and Florida Market President for VyStar Credit Union, as she shares her transformative journey from an entry-level position in banking to a leadership role impacting many. Lysa discusses the importance of kindness over being right, finding your 'why', and inspiring others through positive leadership. Discover how connecting with people has shaped her approach to leadership and team management. Lysa M. Barbano How to Lead at Any Level: Lysa Barbano's Tips for Meaningful Leadership https://lnkd.in/eVWfCfHV

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Real growth occurs through collaboration. Engaging in discussions about maximizing leadership strengths can profoundly impact community banks and their teams. Maximizing your leadership team starts with a conversation - Let's Talk - https://lnkd.in/edzfDsB #TransformationalLeadership #CommunityBanking #EffectiveLeadership

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I started my career at M&T Bank as a loan officer in 2002. 🏦 I worked at a building named M&T Center which is located at One Fountain Plaza. A few blocks away, there was another large building called M&T Plaza which is located at One M&T Plaza. It can be pretty confusing if you don’t know the setup. 🤯 These were the days when customers needed to come in and exchange docs because eSignature wasn’t a thing yet, and scanners weren’t something most people had access to. There was a customer parking lot across the street from our building which had plenty of customer parking and there was a larger parking lot next to that for employees that had no customer parking. Upon entering the building, customers needed to stop at security to get a pass, then were directed to the elevators to get up to the 5th floor where we were located. I learned pretty early on that I needed to do the following to have a successful borrower meeting: 1️⃣ Call my borrowers and explain to them that there were two M&T buildings, and be sure they we’re heading to the correct one. 2️⃣ Give them direction on which parking lot to park in. 3️⃣ Walk down to security and hand them my business card with the name of the individuals visiting so I could be called to escort them up when they arrived. If the borrowers went to the wrong building, they wouldn’t have been able to find the right parking lot, would go into the wrong building and get lost.  When they were directed to the right building, they would walk, because they didn’t want to deal with re-parking. 🤷🏻‍♂️ If the borrowers went to the wrong parking lot, they couldn’t get parking and would anxiously try to figure out an alternative. 🅿 If they showed up at the security desk unannounced, they would have a frustrating interaction as the security guard tried to figure out if they should be let in and where they needed to go. 👮‍♀‍ None of these things had anything to do with mortgage banking, but they were critical to the borrower’s experience. Today we don’t have as many borrower meetings in person, instead, our borrowers are on a technical “journey”, strolling into our mortgage world, armed with an iPhone.  Understanding and empathizing with this journey is just as important as understanding credit scores and LLPAs.  Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

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In honor of #CommunityBankingMonth, here are stories from 6 banks about how their work helps customers achieve their dreams. These banks are showing the true meaning of community in the latest issue of #IndependentBanker: https://lnkd.in/eJtE9FuT

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Join us at the upcoming CULytics Workshop, "Measuring What Matters: Implementing OKRs in Credit Unions." This engaging, two-session event is tailored for credit union executives and department leaders, offering practical tools and insights to set, align, and achieve key objectives that drive organizational success. [https://zurl.co/Ie8V] Session 1 Highlights: Introduction to OKRs: Understanding the Basics Crafting Powerful Objectives: What Makes a Good Objective? Defining Key Results: Distinguishing Between Key Results and Performance Metrics Interactive Exercise: Participants will draft preliminary OKRs for their organizations. Register Now: https://zurl.co/Ie8V Not a CULytics member yet? https://zurl.co/sL4B

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We feel the same, Christopher Williston VI, CAE. Kudos to The Baker Group and IBAT. Very comforting to see such strong passion, leadership and commitment to the future of our vital community banks. #communitybanking #regionalbanking #IBAT #visibility #strategicvisibility #communitybank #risk #finance #fintech #opportunities #riskmanagement #ERM #ECRM #engagement #banking #CFO #enterpriseriskmanagement #CECL #credit #creditrisk #creditriskmanagement #CRO #compliancerisk #compliance 

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Pride Month is a time to celebrate and honor the LGBTQIA+ community, recognizing the impact and contributions of its members. Many organizations, including credit unions, often show support for Pride Month through various initiatives, events, and advocacy efforts. Credit unions, being community-focused financial institutions, often prioritize inclusivity and diversity. During Pride Month, some credit unions may launch special campaigns to raise awareness about LGBTQIA+ issues, offer financial services tailored to the needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, or support local LGBTQIA+ organizations through donations or partnerships. Additionally, credit unions may use Pride Month as an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for both employees and members, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This might include implementing non-discrimination policies, providing LGBTQIA+ sensitivity training, or participating in Pride parades and events. Overall, Pride Month provides credit unions with a chance to demonstrate their support for equality, diversity, and inclusion while also engaging with and giving back to the LGBTQIA+ community. #creditunion#pride#pridemonth#lgbtqia#love#pride2024#celebrate#cudifference

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💸 Form economic impact engines with fellow members that infuse new capital into your charity. Let's reset compensation and employment standards for those who work in our sector. 🌱 • Collaborate for financial stability • Drive change in employment practices • Empower your workforce https://nanoe.org (800) 257-6670 #EconomicImpact #FairCompensation

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