Florida Banking February 2023

KUDOS

ICBA Foundation Receives Pledges of More Than $200,000 for Community Banks and Employees Affected by Hurricane Ian

U nder CEO Geoff Roepstorff and President Robbie Roepstorff, Bank of the Islands/Edison National Bank has taken a leadership role in supporting the #SanCapStrong campaign initiated by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce to aid in recovery following Hurricane Ian’s fury on Sept. 28, 2022. The bank’s engagement included underwriting the printing cost of the SanCap Strong shirts and then placing the first order for 15 shirts. Instead of the $50 per long-sleeved shirt price, the bank pitched in $1,000 for each shirt it ordered for its staff members, T he Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) Foundation announced that the disaster relief program, activated in coordination with ICBA-affiliated Florida Bankers Association (FBA), has more than $200,000 pledged to assist employees and families of Florida’s community banks affected by Hurricane Ian. “With Hurricane Ian creating significant destruction of property and tragic loss of life, I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from our community banking family during these challenging times,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “ICBA members from around the country generously participated, demonstrating, once again, their roles as financial first responders in times of need.” In addition to the support of community bankers, ICBA matched the first $50,000 raised to help donations go further in supporting relief. Funds will be distributed via the FBA to those community banks and bankers who may need assistance with hurricane related expenses. “We are grateful for the partnership with ICBA and the response from our community bank colleagues across the country,” FBA President and CEO Alex Sanchez said. “This display of support from our community banking family across the nation will have a significant impact on our ability to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Ian.” The FBA has received many messages of gratitude from impacted bankers for whom the funds made a difference as they recover and rebuild.

“Thank you for the check due to Hurricane Ian’s damage! You have no idea how much this means to me and my family. We had no idea what the damage would add up to. Thank you again,” said Chris and Ernie Scheidemann, FineMark National Bank &Trust. The ICBA Foundation Disaster Relief Program supports ICBA-affiliated state associations, ICBA Federal Delegates, and — in states where neither are present — ICBA leadership bankers in fundraising when areas of their state have been affected by presidentially declared or state governor-declared disasters. In coordination with the affiliated state association and ICBA Federal Delegate or other ICBA leadership banker in the state, funds are collected and disbursed for the express purpose of assisting affected community banks and community bank employees. The ICBA Foundation does not use any of the funds collected to pay the costs of administering this program.

FBA President and CEO Alex Sanchez tours the areas impacted by Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida.

Bank of the Islands Underwrites San-Cap Chamber Post-Ian Shirt Campaign

for a total of an added $15,000. “Robbie and I have called Sanibel home for most of our lives,” said Geoff Roepstorff. “Our dreams came true decades ago when we opened the Sanibel and Captiva offices of Bank of the Islands. Since then, it has been very clear to us how crucial the Chamber is to our community. Like the Sanibel Lighthouse, the Chamber is a source of light for our islands. And now, with so many Chamber members stricken by Ian, the Chamber revenues have seen a serious decline. For those who can, it is time to support our Chamber by giving what you can as soon as you can. We hope others will join

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