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09/10/2010 Bank of the West
Bank of the West
WHO WE ARE:
At Bank of the West, we are dedicated to helping improve the social and economic health of the communities we serve, particularly by promoting financial education. Bank of the West supports a variety of financial literacy programs and nonprofit organizations, such as Operation Hope, Inc., Junior Achievement, National Theatre for Children and other Jump$tart partners. Our comprehensive approach to financial literacy engages people of all ages and backgrounds, complements education with incentives and reinforces local efforts with a national strategy. To learn more about Bank of the West’s commitment to community, visit www.bankofthewest.com/community.
Founded in 1874 and headquartered in San Francisco, $61 billion-asset Bank of the West is one of the largest banks in the U.S., offering a full range of business, personal, trust, and international banking services. The bank operates more than 700 commercial and retail banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. Bank of the West's holding company, BancWest Corporation, is owned by BNP Paribas, a leading global financial services institution ranked by Standard & Poor's as one of the world's six strongest banks.
OUR PARTNERS:
Operation Hope:
Since 2000, Bank of the West and Operation Hope, Inc. have cooperated to provide underserved urban communities financial education and services. This relationship has grown substantially over time and has included establishment of a “HOPE Center” counseling center within Bank of the West’s Fruitvale branch in Oakland, and partnering to teach the Banking on Our Future (BOOF) financial education program in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Portland, and Denver. Once students have completed the BOOF program with a Bank of the West teacher, they are eligible to open a free custodial savings account at Bank of the West, where they can put their financial knowledge about saving into action. After six months, Bank of the West matches the student’s accumulated savings up to $50.
Junior Achievement:
Bank of the West works with Junior Achievement in cities throughout its footprint, including Albuquerque, NM; Denver, CO; Oklahoma City, OK; Tucson, AZ; Reno and Las Vegas, NV; Fresno, Los Angeles and San Jose, CA to provide JA’s financial education curriculum in our communities’ local schools. Bank of the West volunteers also participate in Junior Achievement’s Finance Park, where students assume the role of ‘adult for a day” and create a monthly budget reflecting their unique life situation.
Mad About Money:
The National Theatre for Children’s “Mad About Money” production is an educational theatre program focused on teaching key financial topics including managing spending, prioritizing needs, saving, investing and paying interest. This is the third year that Bank of the West is sponsoring The National Theatre for Children to present a “Mad About Money” tour this fall at middle schools throughout the bank’s foot print.
WHAT’S NEW:
Three Cups Book:
Written by Mark St. German and illustrated by April Willy, Three Cups teaches children from an early age how to save, spend and be charitable. Bank of the West has partnered with the creators of Three Cups to use this book as a financial education lesson at schools, libraries and other community organizations throughout the bank’s footprint. Bank of the West has also partnered with Interactive Parenting Media to develop a Spanish translation by Dr. Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne, host of Spanish radio program Nuestros Niños. To learn more about Three Cups visit their website at: http://www.3cupsbook.com.
Be Wise, Be Aware, Prevent Elder Financial Abuse Documentary:
Bank of the West and Elder Financial Protection Network produced a 30-minute documentary titled “Be Wise, Be Aware: Preventing Financial Elder Abuse.” This documentary aired five times on California’s NBC Bay Area affiliate in the first half of 2010 and features stories from financial elder abuse survivors and experts addressing the topic of how to protect elders from financial exploitation. This documentary is currently available on YouTube and can be viewed at: http://www.bewiseonline.org/media/nbc/nbcdocumentary.shtml
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rebeca Rangel
SVP, Community Affairs Manager
Bank of the West
180 Montgomery Street, 14 floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: 415-399-8271
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