ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 15, 2020) – New Mexico Bank & Trust announced today it will commit $100,000 to support five local community initiatives in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. The state-chartered bank will make significant contributions to the YMCA of Central New Mexico; Albuquerque Community Foundation/United Way of Central New Mexico – Emergency Action Fund; United Way of Santa Fe County – COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund; Santa Fe Community Foundation – COVID-19 Response Fund; and United Way of Eastern New Mexico. This latest community outreach follows earlier announcements about the bank’s comprehensive COVID-19 response measures centered around financial relief for clients and employee safety.
“This is an unprecedented time for families and businesses across New Mexico, and it has changed what it means to be a community,” said Greg Leyendecker, President and CEO of New Mexico Bank & Trust. “We recognize the urgent need to come together and help one another during this crisis. On behalf of our amazing team at New Mexico Bank & Trust, I’m honored to support these important community programs and relief efforts.”
$40,000 for Emergency Child Care Services and Youth and Family Programs
New Mexico Bank & Trust will contribute $40,000 to YMCA of Central New Mexico. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, YMCA has offered emergency child care services to first responders and individuals providing essential services. Their programs and services aim to foster social responsibility, promote healthy living, and nurture the potential of children.
- Social Responsibility – responding to communities’ most critical social needs through social services, volunteerism, education, training, and advocacy
- Healthy Living – lifelong learning programs and family-centered activities such as sports and recreation, social networks, and health and fitness
- Nurturing Potential – cultivating values and skills in today’s youth through child care, education and leadership, swim, sports and play, and camp
“When we were ordered to shut down operations, we really did not know what was next for our organization,” said YMCA President and CEO Roberto Aguirre. “But, as the YMCA has done for over 100 years within our community, we began to focus on meeting the needs of our community.”
$25,000 for Emergency Action Fund Serving Nonprofits
New Mexico Bank & Trust will donate $25,000 to the Albuquerque Community Foundation/United Way of Central New Mexico – Emergency Action Fund. The fund supports nonprofits organizations struggling with lost and non-recoverable revenue expenses and/or increased or changed programming due to the COVID-19 crisis. Contributions from New Mexico Bank & Trust and other local businesses will go into an unrestricted grant program that provides short-term funding to organizations in the Greater Albuquerque Area.
“Community Foundations were built for difficult times like this. As a convener and conduit between the for-profit and the nonprofit business communities, we are particularly proud of our ability to reach out to the organizations with the largest need and then to connect them to socially responsible companies who recognize the value of a robust community for all residents,” said Kelli Cooper, Vice President, Albuquerque Community Foundation.
$15,000 for Food, Employment, Housing, and Mental Health Resources
Individuals and families have been severely impacted by the health and economic crisis – physically, financially, and emotionally. New Mexico Bank & Trust will direct $15,000 for immediate support of the United Way of Santa Fe County – COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for families, workers, health professionals, and first responders. UWSFC is providing remote learning and educational services to children enrolled at Kaune early learning center, as well as postpartum and first-born support to families, online and virtual social get-togethers, and support for in-home childcare providers.
“We are able to track, in real time, how the current situation is affecting young and vulnerable families in Santa Fe County,” said Abby Border, Vice President of Resource Development for UWSFC. “We have weekly contact with over 300 families enrolled for services and are directing them to food, employment, housing, and mental health resources as they navigate the instability of their futures. Stress is heighted for many families as they face new challenges every day.”
$10,000 to Address Critical Gaps in Food and Income Security
As the COVID-19 crisis persists, the demand for emergency meal services are surging. New Mexico Bank & Trust will donate $10,000 to the Santa Fe Community Foundation – COVID-19 Response Fund, which supports nonprofit organizations that provide daily meals for children and seniors impacted by school and senior center closures. The Response Fund will also provide funding for emergency health services, childcare, rent, and utilities.
“The Santa Fe Community Foundation is proud to partner with businesses in building a culture of community philanthropy – especially when collaboration and solidarity are what will enable us to strengthen our many communities at this critical time,” said William (Bill) Smith, President & CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation. “We are honored to work with our longtime partner New Mexico Bank & Trust, as well as fellow grantees, in the deployment of these significant dollars to nonprofits serving those most affected by COVID-19.”
$10,000 for Low-Income Families
New Mexico Bank & Trust will donate $10,000 to United Way of Eastern New Mexico to help meet the immediate critical needs of furloughed workers and low-income families.
“During this time, we have been connecting people with local resources through 211, assisting low-income families and the newly unemployed with rent and utility assistance, supporting our partner agencies as they adapt to the rapidly changing situation, and calling on our community to volunteer to help meet critical needs,” said Erinn Burch, Executive Director of UWENM.
New Mexico Bank & Trust Part of $1.2 Million Community Outreach Initiative
Heartland Financial USA, Inc., the holding company of New Mexico Bank & Trust and 10 other regional banks across the United States, is contributing a total of $1.2 million to COVID-19 community relief programs. The outreach is directed at supporting families and businesses across 12 states impacted by the crisis.
Banking Client Relief Actions
Since the beginning of the crisis, New Mexico Bank & Trust has enacted a multitude of programs aimed at providing financial relief for consumer, small business, and commercial clients. As an SBA-certified lender, New Mexico Bank & Trust is also working with business clients to utilize available CARES Act funding, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and other programs.
Keeping Our Employee Team Safe
New Mexico Bank & Trust continues to adapt our operations to the evolving environment. This has included having much of our workforce working remotely from home, modifying bank lobby access, restricting employee travel and group meetings, and intensifying the cleaning regiments of all our locations. New Mexico Bank & Trust has also implemented a premium pay increase of 20% for its hourly customer-facing bank branch employees and customer service representatives in our call centers. The bank has also committed to cover all COVID-19 related testing and treatment costs for its primary healthcare plan participants.
About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a diversified financial services company with assets of $13.2 billion. The company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment and insurance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 114 banking locations serving 83 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.