Fulton Bank and the Enterprise Center Advocate for Diverse Entrepreneurship

Philadelphia Event Celebrated Launch of Diverse Business Banking Program

Lancaster, Pa. (October 19, 2023) – Local entrepreneurs and business leaders recently gathered in Philadelphia for an “Entrepreneur Exchange” hosted by The Enterprise Center and Fulton Bank, a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT).

The event – Advancing Diverse Businesses through Access to Capital – celebrated the launch of Fulton’s Diverse Business Banking program, which is designed to accelerate outreach to minority, women, veteran and LGBTQ business owners.

“As a community bank, we are committed to serving our entire community,” said Angela Snyder, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer at Fulton. “Philadelphia is a dynamic market and a great place for businesses to thrive, with a strong combination of private companies, healthcare and educational institutions, and a drive to innovate. Our focus is to serve as trusted advisors, helping to empower businesses in the communities we serve to achieve their financial goals.”

“Access to capital and private equity remains one of the largest and most persistent hurdles to the success of Black and brown entrepreneurs,” said Della Clark, President and CEO of The Enterprise Center. “We must be intentional in our work to ensure that minority business owners are not only aware of financing opportunities, but they also have the tools and balance sheet to take actionable steps to grow. We thank our partners at Fulton Bank for stepping up to the table with purpose.”

“At Fulton Bank, we’ve built a specific program to reach out to businesses that often have had challenges gaining access to financing and banking services in the past,” said Joel Barnett, Senior Vice President and Director of Commercial Affinity Banking at Fulton. “In addition to banking products and services, the cornerstone of this program is our Certified Diverse Business Advocates, who have received special training to provide advice, education, mentorship and networking opportunities for business owners.”

Products and services available through Diverse Business Banking include:

• Flexible approval criteria for loans and lines of credit
• Business banking product bundles
• SBA (Small Business Administration) products
• Merchant services
• Payroll and cash management services

At the Entrepreneur Exchange, Lou Lombardi, Regional Commercial Executive for Fulton Bank, moderated a panel of speakers that included:  

• Joel Barnett, Director of Commercial Affinity Banking, Fulton Bank
• Della Clark, President and CEO, The Enterprise Center>
• Varsovia Fernandez, CEO, Pennsylvania CDFI Network
• Alba Martinez, Founder and Executive Director, La Guagua 47
• Angela Snyder, Chief Banking Officer, Fulton Bank

John Chin, Executive Director, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp., was originally scheduled to participate in the panel but was unable to attend.

The event at The Enterprise Center also included networking and an opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect with representatives from organizations that can support their growth, including:

• Community Development Financial Institutions – The Enterprise Center and Community First Fund
• City of Philadelphia Commerce Department
• Attorneys - Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Philadelphia VIP
• Accountant - Horsey, Buckner & Heffler, LLP
• Small Business Administration lending – Fulton Bank

More information about Diverse Business Banking – including links to educational resources and networking opportunities – is available on Fulton Bank’s Diverse Business Banking website.

Fulton Bank speakers at the Entrepreneur Exchange included
Joel Barnett, Director of Commercial Affinity Banking, and Angela Snyder, Chief Banking Officer.

About The Enterprise Center

The Enterprise Center was established in 1989 by David Thornburgh and Larry Bell and is carried on today by President & CEO Della Clark. The Enterprise Center has a rich and diverse practice supporting minority entrepreneurs and under-resourced communities spanning more than three decades. Clients and partners trust The Enterprise Center to advise and deliver on transformative economic development connected to minority business growth cycles and community wealth-building initiatives. Learn more about The Enterprise Center here. 

About Fulton Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in Lancaster, Pa., Fulton Bank is a premier community bank in the Mid-Atlantic region. As a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation, a $27 billion financial services holding company, Fulton Bank offers a broad array of products and services at more than 200 financial centers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. At Fulton Bank, we seek to change lives for the better by building strong customer relationships, providing significant community support and empowering more than 3,300 employees to do the same. Through the Fulton Forward^® initiative, we’re helping build vibrant communities. Learn more at www.FultonBank.com. Fulton Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.