Interview by Aaron Berman
1. As a long-time banking veteran, how did you begin your career?
I began my banking career while I was a student at San Francisco State University as a sales assistant to bond traders at an investment banking company in San Francisco. That experience exposed me to wealth and a work ethic that I still carry with me to this day.
After that, I was offered a position at Citibank in Oakland as a CRA Mortgage Officer. At that time, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) was a relatively new act passed by congress in 1977 to address disparities in lending by banks. I worked with housing nonprofit organizations and minority real estate trade organizations to make them aware of the products and services that the bank offered. Coming from a middle-class working family, coupled with my work exposure — I grew extremely passionate about serving underserved communities.
2. What are some of the toughest challenges faced by low-income communities today?
In my opinion, the toughest challenges faced by low-income communities are centered around access and availability to products and services that benefit people in the long term. This includes access to capital and technical assistance for micro- and small minority- business owners, financial education, and affordable mortgages for people to begin the process of creating generational wealth through real estate.
3. What is CB&T doing to meet these challenges?
Last year, we launched the Small Business Diversity Banking program, which provides loans and access to capital for minorities, women, veterans, and LBGTQ small business owners. This program also provides resources to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) for technical assistance for business owners to further develop their businesses.
We also developed the Affordable Mortgage program, which addresses needs of low- to moderate-income homebuyers.
Additionally, through our Community Development Grant program, CB&T makes nearly 100 donations to nonprofit organizations in California, which make an impact on the lives of underserved people in our local communities.
4. As president of CB&T’s African Americans in Banking (AAIB) employee resource group, which accomplishments are you most proud of?
As chair of AAIB, I’m proud of the membership and leadership team who have stepped up to participate in this work of inclusion and understanding of the African American experience. I am most proud of the partnership we have developed with Pacific Coast Regional (a CDFI) to provide quarterly technical assistance through workshops to their small business owners.
We have covered topics that include how to shop for and interview a bank and banker, cash flow, credit causalities and fraud prevention. It has been extremely rewarding for the AAIB group to reach out and teach underserved black and minority business owners.
5. What do you do to keep yourself centered and recharged?
Sleep, exercise and healthy eating keep me recharged. I have developed a passion for golf and look forward to getting better with practice. I also serve as a member of local and national community service and social organizations.
This content was originally pubished in our award-winning magazine In Your Corner. See issue 13 of In Your Corner here: In Your Corner Magazine | Fall 2022 (flippingbook.com)