INGLEWOOD – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, hosted a town hall on access to banking products and services in Inglewood on Dec. 2.
Those in attendance listened to speakers from various financial sectors speak on how to access affordable banking products and services from financial institutions.
Speakers included: Ms. Colleen Canny, Executive Vice President and National Head of Branch Banking, Wells Fargo, Mr. David Cameron, Executive Vice President of Personal & Business Banking, City National Bank, Mr. Jeffrey Martinez, Executive Vice President and Head of Branch Banking, PNC Bank and Director Rohit Chopra, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mr. Avy Mallik, General Counsel, California’s Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI), Mr. Everett Sands, CEO, Lendistry, Dr. Carolyn Staten-Patton, Manager, Financial Wealth Building & Community Housing Department, West Angeles Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Ms. Anna “Queen” Tutt, President, Consolidated Board of Realtists of Southern California.
2UrbanGirls got the opportunity to speak to Mr. Sands on the importance in partaking in Ms. Waters town hall and what he hoped participants gained from the assembled speakers.
2UG: Why was it important to hold a Town Hall on this topic?
ES: At Lendistry we see firsthand the power small businesses have in uplifting not only local communities but the entire U.S. economy. Small businesses have contributed 2/3 of the jobs added to the U.S. economy over the last 25 years, and recently there’s been a boom in federal support for minority-owned small businesses. Access to capital is critical, and Lendistry is working to ensure small business owners are aware of every opportunity available to them.
2UG: What would you like attendees to have learned from this discussion?
ES: We want small business owners right here in California to know there are federal programs, state programs, and partners like Lendistry available and ready to support their growth and ambitions.
2UG: What is the significance in partnering with Congresswoman Waters?
ES: We are honored to join Congresswoman Waters to advance access to responsible capital for local small and minority-owned businesses. The Congresswoman has been a steadfast champion for the needs of small business owners and the specific resources these businesses need to succeed. We commend the Congresswoman for convening this cross-sector forum to discuss the importance of fair and equitable financing.
To learn more about services provided by Lendistry click here.