40 The Queens Courier • business • october 10, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com business Stefanie Handsman, a Queens native, was recently hired as Amalgamated Bank’s Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking. (continued from page 38 ) After a non-profit is awarded a grant from the state, Amalgamated buys the voucher and provides the non-profit with 70 percent of the funds up front. When the state distributes the full amount of the voucher to Amalgamated, the bank then pays the balance to the non-profit, minus a monthly 1 percent fee. While banking access and affordability are paramount, both Handsman and Berg stress the importance of making customers feel welcome and at home as they bank. This is important at all touch points, from branch staff who know their clients by name and appreciate their unique personal banking needs, to relationship managers who come from Queens and know the Queens market. “There are lots of gems in Queens and you don’t have to be located in Manhattan to have a successful business.” STEFANIE HANDSMAN Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking Amalgamated Bank’s reach extends beyond the reach of its physical branch locations. The bank regularly supports community events. In March, for example, Amalgamated Bank served as a sponsor for the Queen World Film Festival. Recently, Amalgamated Bank was active in the Festival de las Flores. Jackson Heights Branch Manager Roxana Ramos and Flushing Branch Manager Luisa Gosman attended the event in support of the festival. Amalgamated Bank also provides grants to Queens-based organizations such as the Queens Community House, Chhaya CDC, Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corp, and The Fortune Society. The Bank is looking to further showcase its three core tenets: uncompromising customer attention, accessibility to all people, and advocating for workers and the people and organizations who support them. With these goals in mind, the bank will start to introduce a new look and feel that is more representative of Amalgamated Bank’s history and future starting in March 2014. Berg noted that with the new look and feel “we will essentially modernize a great brand. We will continue to deliver exceptional customers service and provide our clients with the accessible and affordable banking services they need.” To learn more about Amalgamated Bank, visit www. amalgamatedbank.com.
QC10102013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above