Independent Banker - June 2021 - 40

Customer &
Community Service
The pandemic has underscored the importance of being close to
the needs of your customers and community. Three community
bank leaders on our 40 Under 40 list talk about why they serve
underserved communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Q: Why do you believe it's important to bring underserved people into the
banking system?
Angelica Santibanez: Miami is home to tens of thousands of unbanked or underbanked households who
frequently use expensive and unnecessary predatory financial services like payday lenders or check
cashers. Research has shown that people with bank accounts are more likely to move up the economic
ladder and reach financial security. So, to me, empowering financially underserved people and businesses
paves the pathway for financial stability and brighter futures and helps build generational wealth. That's a
huge win for everyone.
Daniel Galindo: Especially now we've become more virtual, people are getting left out. The number of people
we saw during this pandemic coming in to cash checks, it's really astonishing. I think the larger banks do a
lot of cross-selling, and I like to say that we're two steps removed from that. We want to make sure that you
understand what your debit card and your checkbook can do for you, and that you know how to manage those
things, before you can start talking to us about a loan.
Amira Kujundzic: I came as an immigrant to this country, because I was born in Bosnia and we had
a war that broke out there in 1992. St. Louis is unique, because we have more than 70,000 Bosnian
immigrants living here. It's a privilege to serve these individuals and be a part of their life, educating
them about what banking looks like in this country.
Q: Do you have a personal vision or goal that drives you?
Santibanez: I've been driven by a desire to help others in our local community to build and create a
stronger, kinder Miami. I've dedicated my life to nonprofit work, and now I'm on the other end, being
able to help nonprofits move forward and help the underserved community in a diff erent way, in the
corporate sector.
Galindo: I'm an immigrant. I came from Mexico at a very young age. I remember people from a bank around
my high school coming in and teaching us financial education. I would then go home and help my parents with
their financials. I was 10, 11 years old. A lot of immigrants come to the United States and don't trust the bank,
because in their country, the banks have done them wrong, or there's no consumer protection. I have a goal to
ensure that every American understands the financial landscape and how to utilize that vehicle to create wealth
for themselves.
Kujundzic: I live under one simple rule: Every banking relationship counts. You have to take the time
and nourish each and every relationship. At the same time, I would say it's important that the financial
industry tailors the services that they off er to the needs of each and every customer.
40 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q June 2021

Independent Banker - June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - June 2021