M&T Bank

Wishing you happy holidays and a joyful new year.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Prince George’s County Small Business Accelerator Program, hosted in partnership with FSC First! Over eight weeks, small business owners gained essential entrepreneurial skills, guided by top regional professionals, and are now ready to drive economic growth and create generational wealth in our community. This year’s winners are: 🏆 1st Place ($5,000): Sadija A. Smiley, Stillborn and Infant Loss Support Inc. 🏅 2nd Place ($3,000): Nicole Angela Sergeant, Freckled LLC 🥉 3rd Place ($2,000): Tiffany Kelly, House of Ketubah Bridal These businesses are vital to our community, and we’re excited to watch them thrive and inspire others. Learn more about our ongoing commitment to supporting small businesses and promoting diversity here: https://lnkd.in/eJ2aUR7W

This holiday season, to help spread joy to our Western New York neighbors, we were thrilled to host a special event featuring Buffalo Bills star running back James Cook, who surprised more than 200 local children and their families. Festive activities included cookie decorating, face painting, balloon art, and more. Families received a meal to enjoy as well as gift cards to offset expenses, and each child was gifted a new toy donated by Fisher-Price, Inc. The celebration also welcomed 100 M&T employees to recognize the impactful efforts of their volunteerism throughout WNY. A special thank you to James Cook and to everyone who had a part in this memorable evening. #FootballBringsUsTogether

Congratulations to the entrepreneurs who showed up week after week at the University of Bridgeport for this year’s Multicultural Small Business Accelerator Program. The participants showcased creativity, dedication, and drive to build businesses that make a difference in our communities. At the conclusion of this year’s program, we announced the top four pitch winners of this year’s cohort: 🏆 1st Place ($6,000): Christina Phillips, Puure – Tackling reproductive health issues with her line of organic, non-toxic women’s undergarments. 🥈 2nd Place ($4,500): Gisselle FeQuiere, Gisselle Tax and Accounting Firm – Innovating with “Tax Plan Hero,” a mobile app making tax planning accessible and affordable for small business owners and freelancers. 🥉 3rd Place ($3,000): Nova Raft, Nova Raft Business Advisors – Providing tailored strategies to help small businesses grow and adapt in an ever-changing market. 🎖️ 4th Place ($2,500): Peggy Colas, Cornerstone Medical Training Center – Supporting community health by equipping professionals with essential medical training. These businesses represent the heart of our community, and we’re excited to see them thrive and inspire others. Learn more about our commitment to supporting small businesses and fostering diversity at: https://lnkd.in/gPhCwzhn ©2024 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.

We’re proud to announce the appointment of Shannon Lazare as the New Jersey Regional President, leading the bank’s growth and initiatives in the Garden State. Shannon has been with M&T Bank since 2013 and brings over 20 years of experience within the industry. “I am honored to step into the role of Regional President and lead a team that is deeply committed to New Jersey’s growth and prosperity. Together, we’ll keep building on M&T Bank’s longstanding tradition of making a difference for the communities we serve. I am especially determined to ensure M&T Bank meets the needs of local businesses and supports their efforts to create economic opportunities for our neighbors.” – Shannon Lazare Congratulations, Shannon! https://lnkd.in/eTDNpms5

We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 100 Employer of Choice on the 2024 American Opportunity Index! We are dedicated to creating pathways for our employees to grow, thrive and succeed and committed to continuing to prioritize their success as the foundation for M&T Bank’s bright future. Learn more about the index here: https://lnkd.in/ekmHmtNh #AmericanOpportunityIndex #TopEmployers

M&T Bank is proud to be recognized in the Extel 2024 All-America Executive Team overall rankings and among the top large cap companies ($10B–$50B) by sector. We're especially honored to celebrate our leadership team earning top accolades: René Jones – Best Large Cap Chief Executive Officer #1 Daryl Bible – Best Large Cap Chief Financial Officer #1 Brian Klock – Best Large Cap Investor Relations Professional #1 Additionally, we have been awarded the title of Best ESG Ranked Company, reflecting our commitment to sustainability. Earning this recognition reflects the bold strategies we’ve implemented to drive meaningful progress in the banking and financial sector, paired with our team’s dedication to delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and communities. Discover more about the rankings here: https://lnkd.in/e4kTQiVq #FinancialServices #Leadership #Banking #ESG #sustainability

Wishing our clients, communities, and colleagues a Happy Thanksgiving.

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Fair CEO of Helping Hurting Hearts Community Outreach for placing third in our New Jersey Multicultural Small Business Accelerator Program Pitch Competition, held in partnership with NJSBDC at NJCU School of Business! “I want to thank M&T Bank for their support from day one and throughout the seven weeks of training—I am truly grateful. I’m honored to have won third place in the New Jersey Multicultural Small Business Accelerator Program pitch competition. Helping Hurting Hearts Community Outreach is dedicated to supporting underserved populations, especially seniors and women reentering society after incarceration. This prize will allow us to transition from a home setup to a shared workspace, purchase much-needed computers, and eventually hire two part-time employees.” Visit Helping Hurting Hearts online at: https://lnkd.in/gB-XNpF6 At M&T Bank, we are committed to the growth and success of multicultural small businesses. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPhCwzhn ©2024 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.

Congratulations Howie Jeon, Owner of TaleWeaver, for winning first place and receiving $15,000 in our New Jersey Multicultural Small Business Accelerator Program pitch competition, held in partnership with the Small Business Development Center at New Jersey City University (NJSBDC) at NJCU School of Business! “I created TaleWeaver to give kids the chance to explore interactive storytelling, empowering them to learn and create while strengthening their reading skills. This $15,000 award will help us complete our website, invest in marketing, validate the product with students, and finalize development for our Q1 launch next year. My deepest thanks to M&T Bank for their support and guidance throughout the entire seven-week program.” At M&T Bank, we are committed to the growth and success of multicultural small businesses. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPhCwzhn ©2024 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.