Biz Financial Frontrunners August 2020

SPONSORED

FINANCIAL EXPERTS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, GROWTH AND PASSION FOR THEIR INDUSTRY

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SPONSORED

Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union EQUAL HOUSING LENDER When the Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union was first chartered in 1966, running from a second-floor office space above a local florist shop, its primary function was to serve the employees of the Jefferson Parish School System. Five decades later, the intervening years are marked with leaps and bounds that have further solidified Jefferson Financial’s role as an institution that exists to serve and advance the community.

The member-owned, not-for-profit credit union is now comprised of more than 50,000 members across six Louisiana parishes and six Alabama counties, making it the third-largest credit union in the region.

“The financial industry has been consolidating for over 30 years, but Jefferson Financial continues to be a significant, growth-oriented company dedicated to serving our members and educating others about the benefits of credit union membership,” says Mark Rosa, CEO. Members will find many of the same services offered by traditional banks, like online and mobile banking, auto and mortgage loans, VISA® Credit Cards and more, with notable benefits and assets that help to elevate Jefferson Financial’s membership value.

“One of the top perks of belonging to a credit union is that you have the opportunity to earn higher yields on savings and borrow money at lower financing rates,” Rosa explains.

Since the institution is member owned, Jefferson Financial’s mission is supplemented by community action to give back to current and future members. They remain active in their support of several local non-profits, local governments and Chambers of Commerce, contributing resources and skills to ensure continued growth and prosperity for the communities they serve.

In 50 more years, the credit union stands to be even greater than it is today, and while the specifics of technological and institutional advancements are impossible to predict, one thing is sure: Jefferson Financial will always be there to guide their members toward financial success.

CONTACT 7701 Airline Drive · Metairie (504) 348-2424 jeffersonfinancial.org

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SPONSORED

Bienville Capital Group FINANCIAL PLANNING TEAM Financial success doesn’t happen by chance: it is the result of careful and deliberate action and decision making, which is why Bienville Capital Group(BCG) is committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of spending and investments. By helping individuals and businesses set a blueprint for long-term goals, they demonstrate that financial success instead becomes a choice, one backed up by expert action and resources.

“Our focus is on the behavioral finance aspect of investing,” says Lead Partner Emmett G. Dupas III. “As humans, we are prone to making emotional decisions with our money and investments that can lead to inefficient outcomes. We believe conquering these behaviors plays a larger role in successful retirement planning than any other action.”

An affiliate of Northwestern Mutual, BCG advises on more than 125 retirement plans with approximately 8,000 participants, in addition to working with 250 individual families on personal wealth management. The team’s tireless efforts have earned them industry accolades that demonstrate not only talent and proficiency, but serve as a testament to the results they’ve helped their clients achieve. PLANADVISER magazine has named Dupas one of the Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers in the country six times, and he’s earned a spot in the New Orleans CityBusiness Money Maker Hall of Fame.

Accolades aside, however, the BCG team remains motivated by one thing: transforming people’s lives and helping them shape stronger, brighter futures.

“Helping participants in establishing their retirement goals and seeing them through it provides great satisfaction for our team. The passion 42

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comes from caring about who we work with in attaining their goals and objectives based on their risk tolerance,” Dupas says. “Our team takes great pleasure in helping individuals, as well as companies, and being able to impact people’s lives in such a positive way.”

TOP ROW: Cristin D. Hand – Director of Business Development; Emmett G. Dupas III – Lead Partner BOTTOM ROW: Dylan Hoon – Associate Partner; Mojdeh Efatian – Client Relations Manager; Shannon Navarro – Operations Manager

111 Veterans Mem Blvd., Suite 940 . Metairie . (504) 620-4801 . bienvillecapitalgroup.com Emmett G. Dupas III uses Bienville Capital Group as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Bienville Capital Group is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) (insurance) and its subsidiaries.

Dupas III is an Insurance Agent of NM and a Registered Representative of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (securities), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and member FINRA and SIPC.

SPONSORED

Home Bank BUSINESS AND PERSONAL BANKING PROFESSIONALS Home Bank just celebrated its 112th anniversary, but the bank is anything but old fashioned. Through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Great Recession and now the COVID-19 pandemic, Home Bank has not only remained strong and stable as an institution but has helped countless families and businesses plan, manage and grow their finances.

Central to the bank’s culture are integrity, innovation and a commitment to service, and these values have become even more fundamental in recent months. Home Bank’s dedicated team made it their mission to help businesses minimize the impact of changing social protocols and operational regulations, working hand-in-hand with business owners to secure funding through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

“Our team of experienced bankers offer exceptional service and advice, and we’re there when it counts,” says John Zollinger, New Orleans Market President. “We understand the perspective of small business owners and the importance of finding solutions that make their lives better. With every loan funded, more jobs could be saved, layoffs avoided, and livelihoods sustained.”

Additionally, the implementation of new technologies has allowed Home Bank to deliver essential services like online banking and account management to the palm of a customer’s hand. Digital resources like Zelle®

enable instant person-to-person payments and transfers, while Positive Pay protects businesses from check fraud. Bankers are even available to conduct free financial checkups, providing a comprehensive look at a customer’s financial situation to inform high-level, results-oriented decisions and investments.

Home Bank continues to exemplify the highest standards of service, convenience and security for communities across South Louisiana and Western Mississippi. Their bankers are more than just trusted financial partners — they’re friends and neighbors who keep us moving forward, which is why they live by the motto, “Good for business. Good for life.”

Jefferson Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony held on October 4, 2019 at Home Bank’s new Clearview Branch located at 1105 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, LA 70121

CONTACT 1600 Veterans Blvd., Metairie (504) 834-1190 · home24bank.com

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SPONSORED

Keesler Federal Credit Union FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA As one of the largest credit unions in the Southeast, Keesler Federal Credit Union boasts a wide footprint and roots that run deep. The institution was started in 1947 with a shared vision to create a financial cooperative that benefits all members and puts people first. Now, with 40 branches and 250,000 members worldwide, that vision remains the same.

“We want to be the leader in convenient banking,” says VP of Retail Operations Josh Brown. “Our goal is to reimagine and enhance the member experience.”

To accomplish this, Keesler Federal has embraced innovation and constantly strives to refine and expand their technological offerings. The credit union has rolled out a new online and mobile platform that allows for 24/7 remote banking, equipped with credit score monitoring and financial wellness tools. For those members who still wish to visit a physical location, Keesler Federal continues to provide high-quality service with convenient appointments at each of its branches, including new locations in Mid-City and Metairie.

Relationships always come first at Keesler Federal, both with its members and with the partners who help them revolutionize the member experience. Notably, the institution has partnered with Kasasa, an awardwinning financial technology and marketing services company, to offer high-interest, high-reward checking accounts.

“Financial institutions have embraced the use of digital transformation to aid in their quest to appeal to growing consumer expectations,” says Brown. “Utilizing fintechs and technology can help to further deepen the member relationship, and understanding consumer habits and creating an experience centered around the individual is critical to our financial institution’s success.”

Success, for that matter, is what Keesler Federal aims to help every individual achieve. Whether saving, spending, or borrowing, they’re here to guide members toward financial well-being, because when you join Keesler Federal, you’re part of the family.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW METAIRIE BRANCH TEAM MEMBERS!

(PICTURED ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT): Sydnei Greenwood, Judy Chopin, Lorie Lund, Shantell Thomas, Tessa Anderson, Candace Williams, Jill Jennings, Diondra Robair

LOCATIONS IN MID-CITY AND METAIRIE

CONTACT 888-KEESLER (533-7537) kfcu.org

SPONSORED

Metairie Bank MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Since its founding in 1947, Metairie Bank has been more than just a trusted financial institution: it has been a trailblazer, marking several “firsts” that set the standard for regional banking and pushed the community to new and greater heights.

As the first bank on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish, the company helped to establish Metairie as a self-sufficient township. Years later, it became the first bank in the area to have a website on the Internet. President & CEO Ron Samford says those achievements, and many others since, are part of a deliberate effort to stay abreast and ahead of innovations in banking technology. In fact, technology is just one crucial component of a larger mission to provide impeccable personal service and to foster community enrichment.

Metairie Bank strives to give each person the tools and support they need to accomplish their financial goals with safety, security and ease.

Their smartphone app features Mobile Xpress Deposit, allowing users to remotely deposit checks while cutting-edge security features protect data and financial information. Specialized card controls and alerts also make it easier than ever to manage and monitor transaction activity.

Outside its own doors, Metairie Bank is committed to keeping the community vibrant. They offer financial and volunteer support to several local

nonprofits, including the mentoring program Each One Save One, Youth Service Bureau, Children’s Hospital, Monster Mash at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Jefferson SPCA and Jefferson Performing Arts Center. More recently, as part of the CARES Act in response to COVID-19, Metairie Bank originated 875 Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling $52 million to local small businesses, helping to save 6,500 jobs.

“I’ve never been prouder of our bankers,” Ron Samford says. “That was more than a community enrichment effort — it was for community survival.”

FRONT ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): John LeBlanc, Marina Manzanares, Ron Samford, Victoria Picard, Paul Myers BACK ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): Ronshawn Williams, Staci Bonura, Matthew Thomas, Scott Schellhaas, Mike Gennaro, Shonda Treaudo

CONTACT 3344 Metairie Road · Metairie (504) 834-6330 · metairiebank.com

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SPONSORED

Liberty Bank and Trust MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER At Liberty Bank and Trust, “Liberty” is more than just a name — it’s a mission. Cemented in 1972 by founders Dr. Norman C. Frances and Alden J. McDonald, Jr., Liberty Bank has helped countless individuals and businesses achieve financial freedom by providing services and resources largely dedicated toward supporting underserved communities in the Greater New Orleans area and beyond.

Liberty Bank has blossomed from those humble roots into a full-service bank that encompasses a wide range of clients and industries across the country. Notable among them are financial and medical service professionals, owner-occupied real estate, churches, non-profit organizations and many more. Now with over $600 million in total assets, Liberty is the second largest African American-owned banking institute in the country.

It has also seen tremendous growth in its commercial lending division, as part of the bank’s tireless efforts to invest in business and community development.

“In Liberty Bank’s early days, commercial lending made up less than 10% of our loan portfolio,” says Matthew T. Sims, Senior Vice President.

“With the growth in minority-owned businesses and a wider target market for our commercial lending products, our commercial lending portfolio is more than 60% of the bank’s overall loan portfolio today.”

Liberty Bank maintains a strong online presence with convenient digital banking tools, ensuring that customers are supported even in

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areas without physical locations. And no matter how much the institution expands, it never strays from that original mission to uplift underserved individuals and communities.

“While many of the larger financial institutions are getting away from local decision making, Liberty is proud of the fact that it keeps its loan decisions tied to the community where the request originates,” says Sims.

“This allows us to respond to our clients in a timely fashion and to make decisions that are more informed with knowledge of the client and community we are serving.”

LEFT TO RIGHT: Matthew Sims, Senior Vice President; Ronald LeCompte, Senior Commercial Banking Officer; Terri Baptiste-Franklin, Vice President, Commercial Lending; Ronald Carrere, Vice President, Commercial Lending

CONTACT 6600 Plaza Drive . New Orleans (504) 240-5100 . libertybank.net

SPONSORED

Thomas J. Exnicios, CPA, CGMA HANNIS T. BOURGEOIS, LLP

CONTACT 650 Poydras St., Suite 1200 New Orleans (504) 274-0200 · htbcpa.com

When a client comes to Tom Exnicios for their accounting needs, they can rest assured that they’re receiving the most comprehensive, experienced counsel available. Throughout his decades-long career, Exnicios has learned to approach complex financial decisions from every possible angle, combining the knowledge he’s garnered through his time as a public accountant, community banking executive and operations expert to find the most effective way forward.

“My wealth of business knowledge, combined with a broad understanding of my client’s needs, position me as a trusted advisor and enable me to work with clients to obtain their goals and achieve financial success,” Exnicios says. “With

me, there is no distinction between ‘big and small’ clients when it comes to quality of service.”

That determination, along with his knack for understanding and communicating with all types of people, have quickly propelled him through the ranks of Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP. It all comes back to Exnicios’ self-proclaimed mission to “make our community a better place and inspire those who work with myself and our firm.”

Never one to settle, Exnicios maintains a passion for growth and looks forward to innovation in technology and data analytics, which will further allow him to uphold his standard of excellence, even in an unsteady economic climate.

Celeste McDonald, CPA, CFSA POSTLETHWAITE & NETTERVILLE No matter what changes the financial industry or the world at large may undergo, Celeste McDonald’s mission always remains the same: “My primary focus is providing the highest level of quality client service possible, and serving as a business resource to help my clients achieve their goals.”

As a Director in Postlethwaite & Netterville’s Accounting and Assurance Services Group, McDonald guides Greater New Orleans area companies of all sizes and industries through financial statement audits, compliance audits, and other services.

Her every decision is informed by years of educational and professional experience, including roles as an external auditor, internal auditor, and business processes consultant.

That P&N has pivoted toward remote operations and digital tools is simply another learning opportunity for McDonald, who seeks to continually expand her breadth of knowledge and understanding in order to lead clients with confidence and assuredness.

“Our firm has been at the forefront of assisting clients in a constantly-evolving business landscape. We have held various educational webinars related to accounting and auditing, compliance, remote work insights, economic relief programs and crisis management,” McDonald says. “New technology and opportunities for automation are improving our ability to analyze data more efficiently and effectively.”

Change might be inevitable, but as for McDonald, she’ll always be there to meet it with an open mind and a helping hand.

CONTACT 1 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 2100 Metairie (504) 837-5990 . pncpa.com

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