Florida Banking February 2024

The Popular Bank expanded senior management team.

In August 2023, Popular Bank hosted a Bowl-A Thon to fundraise for Junior Achievement of Greater Miami, a nonprofit that prepares young people for success. Velasco himself is currently a professional bowler, but enjoys the sport more as a hobby these days. For the Bowl-A-Thon event, Popular Bank claimed almost all 60 lanes of the bowling center.

Popular Bank, Continued from page 9

“The project was a ‘build to suit.’ Now we have one and a half floors of contiguous space,” Velasco said. “People want to be here because they love the environment that we’ve worked so hard to create. The South Florida community knows what a great team of bankers we have here. Our success attracts people

to come work for Popular.” Popular Bank has a strong reputation in the community for its service and generosity. Bank employees are given dedicated time off for community service, and the bank partners with local nonprofit organizations like Junior Achievement of Greater Miami, Cristo Rey

The Bowl-A-Thon raised a record $80,000. “Our employees have a great time. And we’re raising money for a great cause,” Velasco said. Looking ahead, the bank has plans to continue strategically expanding in South Florida to serve

“COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS A BIG PART OF OUR DNA.”

- ISRAEL VELASCO

High School, Chapman Partnership, and the Center for Financial Training International, just to name a few. “Community involvement is a big part of our DNA. Employees not only volunteer but also contribute to the Popular Bank Foundation which supports local community organizations through grants,” Velasco said. The bank matches $2 for every dollar that employees contribute. Bank employees serve on a committee to review and approve the grant applications.

customers in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Popular Bank’s enterprise-wide transformation will be an ongoing process; it is the lens through which the team makes decisions about tech, product and process improvements. “There’s been a lot of change in the banking landscape. Popular Bank has been a mainstay; our customers know that they can count on us,” Velasco said. “And I believe that has been the reason we’ve grown as we have.”

10 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING