November 6, 2013 – SLEHCRA received word today that Reliance Bank appointed two new members to their Board of Directors that add to the racial and gender diversity.  The two new board members are Michael McMillan, President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and Cheryl Jones, Executive Director of Girls Inc.

As part of their Community Investment Partnership with SLEHCRA signed in November 2011, Reliance Bank agreed to add at least two members to their Board of Directors that increase the racial, ethnic, and/or gender diversity. Reliance Bank was also highlighted in SLEHCRA’s recent report in August 2013,The  State of Bank Reinvestment in St. Louis, for having zero minorities on their Board of Directors.

SLEHCRA is pleased to see Reliance Bank honoring their commitment to increasing the diversity of the bank’s leadership and decision-makers. We believe this is a positive step that will help increase outreach and service to communities that have been previously underserved.

Reliance Bank also announced they are opening a loan production office and full-service ATM in the offices of  Justine PETERSEN, a SLEHCRA member organization, at 1023 North Grand in the City of St. Louis. This partnership  is another step that provides access to mainstream banking services and products for low- and moderate-income borrowers and minority borrowers.

We applaud Reliance Bank’s announcements today and look forward to seeing continued success in investing in our whole community.

Reliance Bank Press Release, November 5, 2013 [PDF]

Read the St. Louis Business Journal story on Reliance Bank’s new board members.