Florida Banking November 2021

KUDOS

PNC Bank Launches Project 257: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality

P NC Bank announced the launch of Project 257: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality, an initiative designed to help close the 257-year economic gender gap and support female financial decision makers. “Project 257” was derived from the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Report that found at the current pace of progress, it will take another 257 years for women to catch up to men from an economic perspective. “I don’t know anyone who thinks this is an acceptable timeline,” said Beth Marcello, director of PNC Women’s Business Development. “As a financial institution that prospers when our customers prosper, it makes perfect sense that we would want to help tackle the economic gender gap. Project 257 aligns with our brand purpose – when we accelerate women’s financial equality, we are making a positive difference, leveraging the power of our resources to help all move forward financially.” A meris Bank (Nasdaq: ABCB) recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding on October 1, 1971. The Atlanta-headquartered bank paid homage to its hometown roots with a series of events in Moultrie, Georgia, the site of its first branch. The bank has grown from one location and 20 employees to more than 200 locations in eight states supported by 2,700 teammates. “We are humbled and honored to celebrate 50 years in business growing alongside the communities we serve,” said Ameris Bank CEO Palmer Proctor. “This milestone would not be possible without the tireless commitment of our Ameris teammates. The past is what built us, and the future is what drives us.” Ameris began as American Banking Company on October 1, 1971 in Moultrie, Georgia with $1 million in capital. Founder Eugene M. Vereen, Jr. envisioned a bank that could think outside-the-box with a solutions-oriented mindset to best serve its customers. That vision resonated with the community, and before long, the company expanded through South Georgia and the Southeast. Today, Ameris Bank manages more than $22 billion in assets. Across its markets, Ameris Bank gives back to its communities. The bank has donated more than $6

Coinciding with the launch of PNC’s Project 257 is the bank’s partnership with SheEO, a global nonprofit whose mission addresses one of the major factors driving the 257-year gap: women’s lack of access to capital. SheEO provides interest-free loans to businesses, or “Ventures,” owned and led by individuals who identify as women or nonbinary and crowdfunds capital from “Activators” who fund the loan pool and play an active role in evaluating and selecting the Ventures. PNC Bank’s three-year, $1.257 million commitment is the largest contribution that SheEO has received from a U.S. company. Through this partnership, PNC will work with SheEO to drive awareness and help increase the number of Activators who support SheEO Ventures. Fifty PNC employees who identify as women or nonbinary will serve as Activators on behalf of PNC – one per market in which PNC has a presence – and play a significant role in the selection, mentorship and success of SheEO Ventures. million since 2018 to the Georgia HEART Hospital Program. In 2010, Ameris launched Helping Fight Hunger, a company-wide food drive to collect nonperishable food items each October. Since its inception, more than 9 million food items and $900,000 have been donated to support food banks throughout the Southeast. “We started out as one branch reaching one community, and now Ameris Bank is privileged to serve 300,000 customers and 66,000 businesses in multiple high-growth markets,” Proctor said.“We have come a long way in a half-century, and ensuring we deliver personalized touch and catered solutions to our customers always will be paramount in our focus. As our company motto states, no matter your financial goals in life, we believe it’s possible, together.” Palmer Proctor

Ameris Bank Celebrates 50 Years of Growth and Service

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