Florida Banking February/March 2025

KUDOS

Amerant Bank Opens New Branch, Celebrates Give Miami Day, Benefits Centro Mater

A merant Bank celebrated the grand opening of its first Downtown Miami branch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony featured remarks from Amerant Chairman and CEO Jerry Plush, along with key community leaders. Amerant SVP and Community Relations Director Maria Olivera emceed the event. Notable attendees included the Miami Marlins’ Mascot, Billy the Marlin, and Miami Heat’s Mascot, Burnie, who represented the bank’s ever-growing portfolio of sports partnerships. The bank also celebrated Give Miami Day, a day highlighting Miami’s spirit of generosity, with a special $15,000 surprise donation to Voices For Children Foundation. Chairman and CEO Plush, joined by Community Relations Director Olivera and SEVP and Chief People Officer Mariola Sanchez, presented the donation. Amerant donated a total of $100,000 to local organizations dedicated to making a positive impact in South Florida communities. The bank announced a partnership with Sedano’s Supermarkets, one of Florida's leading supermarket chains serving Hispanic communities. Starting the first week of December, reusable bags created by I ndependent Banker , the official publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America, named Sanibel Captiva Community Bank to its 2024 Best Community Banks to Work For list. The bank is featured in Independent Banker’s December issue, representing community banks in the $751 million — $1 billion asset category. Honorees were selected based on corporate culture, leadership, compensation, work environment and opportunities for professional development and advancement. The bank was commended for its proactive support of employees during Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, including providing temporary housing and financial assistance for staff displaced by Hurricane Ian. The bank also announced its $5,000 platinum sponsorship of the 13th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament; $5,000 gold sponsorship of the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship; and $15,000 premier sponsorship of Grampy’s Charities and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida’s 7th Annual Golf

Alexis Dominguez, an Amerant Bank team member, were distributed at all Sedano’s and Fresco y Más locations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Tampa. Proceeds from the initiative will benefit Centro Mater, a nonprofit organization providing optimal educational and social services to underserved children and families in the area.

Sanibel Captiva Named a ‘Best Community Bank to Work For,’ Announces Sponsorships

Fundraiser. Tarpon tournament proceeds went to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Golf tournament proceeds supported Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.

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