Did you know that more than one-third of households in Central Alabama are considered financially unstable? Through the Bold Goals Financial Services Network (FSN), we are actively working to overcome this challenge by aligning our community’s resources so that every person in Central Alabama has an opportunity to achieve financial stability.
Recognizing the importance of this work, the following representatives from the banking industry have agreed to serve on the FSN Steering Committee to help identify strategies for addressing the greatest needs in our community: Robert Aland, National Bank of Commerce; Greg King, IBERIABANK; Richard Busby, Wells Fargo; and Emily Yancey, BBVA Compass.
Despite his busy schedule as the Birmingham Market President of National Bank of Commerce, Mr. Aland has been serving as co-chair of the FSN Steering Committee since September 2015. When asked why he chose to participate in this endeavor, he said, “All of us at National Bank of Commerce understand that the financial stability of a community represents and propels the financial viability of the community, and we are committed to playing a vital role in enhancing the opportunity for everyone to enjoy the benefits that come from financial stability.”
Since joining the FSN last year, Mr. Busby, who serves as Senior Community Development Officer at Wells Fargo, has provided a unique perspective on the roles that financial institutions and nonprofits play in our community. “The FSN has brought together nonprofits and a variety of institutions that are all focused on the same thing: helping support the underserved communities in Birmingham,” he said. “Seeing the collaborative spirit of everyone involved – working toward the shared goal of making Birmingham a better place to live and work – has been truly amazing. We still have a lot of work to do, but I think this is the start of a turnaround for our underserved population.”