Penn Community Bank is banking powered by good values, deep roots, and proven expertise. Mutual Growth brings you into the conversation with industry leaders and gives you the tools and insights you need to guide your next-level growth.
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End of life planning might be uncomfortable to think about… but that doesn’t mean it’s not important.
In this episode, we’re joined by Matti Perilstein Burnett – CEO of Eternally – to talk about how her time in healthcare uncovered a gap in end-of-life care resources and a point of opportunity to help millions of Americans.
In our conversation, we discuss how Matti’s personal experience shaped her view of end of life care, what Eternally is doing to address the issue, and how she is working to expand the startup’s reach in the region.
Learn more at myeternally.com
Eggs. Butter. Flour. Staples for any baker… but not all.
In this episode, we’re joined by Toni Lorraine – founder of Dr. Brownies – to talk about her mission to help people taste the sweeter side of life through plant-based vegan and gluten free baked goods.
In our conversation, we discuss Toni’s 30-year journey from restauranteur to doctoral candidate; what inspired her to pursue plant-based baking; and how she hopes her business can shift what job training programs look like.
Learn more at https://www.drbrownies.com/
When you think of “startups” and “entrepreneurs” you might picture Silicone, but, thanks to the work of one local organization, new business concepts are getting the support they need to grow right here in our region.
In this episode, we’re joined by Jon Mercer – president and co-founder of Startup Bucks – a Doylestown-based non-profit focused on helping innovative companies start, grow, and scale in – and beyond – Bucks County. In our conversation, Jon and I discuss how Startup Bucks came about, what the local landscape looks like for entrepreneurs, and how Penn Community Bank’s partnership is taking business development to the next level.
After months of planning and site renovations, Penn Community Bank’s newest location is officially open! The Lansdale Branch and Business Center (490 Forty Foot Rd., Lansdale, PA) is the bank’s second Montgomery County office and will serve as a consumer and business hub for the region. It also marks another milestone in Penn Community Bank’s organic growth and expansion strategy.
In this episode, we’re joined by Melanie Scholl – new Lansdale Branch Manager – to discuss the new location, the role of her branch in the community, and what folks in the Lansdale area can expect from her and her team of relationship bankers.
As businesses continue to look to attract and retain top talent in a unique job market, an increased emphasis is being placed on employee engagement and satisfaction – especially for increasingly diverse teams. In line with Penn Community Bank’s years-long diversity, equity, and inclusion effort, in 2021 the bank launched its first Employee Resource Groups.
In this episode, we’re joined by Natalie Taptykoff – Penn Community Bank VP, Marketing Manager and ERG leader – to discuss the value of employee resource groups, the future of team member development, and how businesses of any size can benefit from connecting staff and increasing involvement.
After a more than a year of record-setting rates and one of the hottest housing markets in recent memory, what does 2022 have in store for home buyers? In this episode, we’re joined by Jim Calista – Penn Community Bank’s new Director of Residential and Consumer Lending – to review where the market has been before looking forward to what comes next. Plus, we’ll review what products and services Jim’s team of residential lenders offers to empower homeowners and buyers.
Financial literacy is defined as the “possession of the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources.”
In this episode, we’re joined by Alayna Lopez – Penn Community Bank Warminster Branch Manager – to learn about the importance of financial literacy and what educational opportunities are available for customers and community members.
Throughout our lives, we’ve all had people who have taught us lessons. Once in a while, a special person appears to give us more; a person who invests in a relationship and commits to growing a colleague personally or professionally. This authentic relationship – and the benefits it yields – is at the core of mentorship.
In this episode of Mutual Growth, we’re once again joined by Sandy Ziegler – Penn Community Bank Director of Training, Development, & Education – to learn about the power of mentorship for individuals and organizations, discuss how team member development has strengthened the bank, and share some tips for mentors and mentees.
As the nation marks the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks of 9/11, American are pausing to remember the tragic events of that day, honor the lives of the nearly 3,000 people lost, and recognize the service and sacrifice of a generation of military members who served in the post-9/11 Global War on Terror.
Today we’re joined by Jim Gallagher, Penn Community Bank Credit Officer and a US Air Force and Army National Guard veteran, to discuss this piece of American history and its impact on his own service. In our conversation, we discuss Jim’s call to service, his response to September 11, and what veterans bring to businesses and communities when they return home.
For over 100 years, the Bucks County SPCA has worked to assist animals in need by rescuing, rehoming, and providing critical community outreach. Now with two locations in Bucks County – Quakertown and Lahaska – the non-profit organization provides services ranging from veterinary work to animal cruelty investigation.
In this episode, we speak with Cindy Kelly – Director of Communications at the Bucks County SPCA – about the organization, it’s mission, and its participation in Penn Community Bank’s Click for a Cause campaign.
After the show is over, be sure to learn more about the Bucks County SPCA and Click for a Cause at PennCommunityBank.com/Cause
Since 1974, the Network of Victim Assistance – or NOVA – has provided much-needed aid to victims of crime, ranging from trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, legal advocacy, and forensic interviews to assist law enforcement. Today, NOVA also provides critical prevention education and professional training in schools and throughout the community.
In this episode, we speak with Grace Wheeler – Director of Prevention and Training at NOVA – about the organization, it’s mission, and its participation in Penn Community Bank’s Click for a Cause campaign.
After the show is over, be sure to learn more about NOVA and Click for a Cause at PennCommunityBank.com/Cause
Over the last 50 years, the Livengrin Foundation has become the region’s leading addiction recovery center – earning a reputation as a respected, compassionate, and ethical alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility. As the challenges of substance abuse and addiction continue to impact our community, Livengrin is focused on providing patients, their families, and communities an effective, affordable, 360° recovery solution.
In this episode, we speak with Chris Francis – Vice President of Clinical Programming at Livengrin – about the organization, it’s mission, and its participation in Penn Community Bank’s Click for a Cause campaign.
After the show is over, be sure to learn more about Livengrin and Click for a Cause at PennCommunityBank.com/Cause
As Quarter 2 turns to Quarter 3, the nation’s economic outlook is changing with it. Widespread access to vaccines, a lifting of state and local mandates and economic restrictions, and the continued impact of consumer spending will ensure the summer of 2021 will look much different than the darker days of COVID-19. But with inflation fears, supply chain disruptions, and a uncertain labor market, what does the future hold?
In this episode, we’re once again joined by Dorothy Jaworski – Penn Community Bank Director of Treasury & Risk Management – to take a look back at the first half of the year, and see what might come next. In our conversation we look at how far “pent up demand” can carry the economy, the rising cost of consumer goods, a new topic – crypto currency.
Sign up for Dorothy’s quarterly economic newsletter by emailing ntaptykoff@penncommunitybank.com
As our region moves on from the coronavirus pandemic, what are the new needs of local businesses and what steps is local government taking to promote economic growth in the wake of massive disruption?
In this episode, we’re joined by Billie Barnes – Bucks County Director of Workforce Development – to discuss the role of the Workforce Development Board and the expanded focus of her and her team. In our conversation we discuss the needs of a changing workforce, resources for local employers and job seekers, and why she says it’s “Better in Bucks.”
When you hear a Penn Community Bank team member or customer talk about “Greater Good Banking,” what do they mean? How does a bank focused on relationships – not bottom lines – provide an annual report?
In this episode, special guest host Bernard Tynes, Penn Community Bank Director of Marketing, interviews Aaron Clark, Communications Manager, about the A Year of Greater Good Bank: 2020 Impact Report and reviews some of the biggest stats and stories of the last 12 months.
The Paycheck Protection Program was launched early in 2020 in an effort to provide economic relief to American businesses impacted by COVID-19. But, even after more than half a trillion dollars in loans to nearly five million businesses, the need is still great.
Now, a second round of PPP funding has been authorized from Washington and local lenders like Penn Community Bank are doing their part to help local businesses weather the storm.
In this episode, we’re joined by Janina Bobak, Business Banking Credit Officer, and John Buckley, Senior Credit Analyst, to discuss what another round of PPP means for borrowers and what the bank is doing to meet businesses’ needs.
Resources:
A pandemic-caused global recession, and an improbable Q3 bounce-back. Record stock market gains, and record-breaking unemployment. Low interest rates, and soaring federal spending.
As 2020 comes to a close, let’s take a look back at how the economy has fared during this unprecedented period and then turn our eyes to what 2021 holds.
In this episode, we’re once again joined by Dorothy Jaworski – Penn Community Bank Director of Treasury and Risk Management, to recap the year that was and get our economic outlook for the year to come.
The coronavirus pandemic has added new challenges for educators from pre-schools to higher education. With 90% of Bucks County Community College’s students moving from in-class to virtual learning, courses had to be re-tooled and access technology considered.
In this episode, we’re joined by Christina McGinley – Executive Director of Foundation & Alumni Relations for Bucks County Community College – to discuss the college’s response to COVID-19 and their partnership with Penn Community Bank to ensure students have the tools they need to succeed from the kitchen table-classroom.
Learn more at bucks.edu/discover/foundation/
We’ve all heard about the importance of your credit score, but for many the true value of developing and maintaining a positive credit score isn’t fully understood. That’s where SavvyMoney – a new credit monitoring tool for Penn Community Bank customers – comes into play.
In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Asher, Delivery Services Manager at Penn Community Bank, to discuss the launch of this new credit score solution, what benefits it can provide for those building or analyzing their credit, and what the bank’s continued investment in technology means for customers.
When many people think of Bucks County, they picture bucolic farm fields and parks, bustling cultural hubs, and established middle class neighborhoods. But behind that picture is a more complicated reality for those looking working to make ends meet.
The Bucks County Opportunity Council – a non-profit based in Doylestown and with locations across the county – works to reduce poverty and partner with our community to promote economic self-sufficiency.
In this episode, we’re joined by Erin Lukoss, executive director and chief executive officer at BCOC, and Jake Iampietro, Director of Retail Banking at Penn Community Bank and a BCOC board member, to learn more about this important organization. In our conversation, we discuss the group’s Economic Self-Sufficiency program, the impact of COVID-19 on the community, and the years-long partnership between Bucks County Opportunity Council and Penn Community Bank.
For more information on the Bucks County Opportunity Council, visit: https://www.bcoc.org/
Watch the 2020 BCOC Economic Self-Sufficiency Graduation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsrrZf6Tf4
As local businesses push forward in an uncertain economy, access to tools and technology has never been more important.
In this episode, we’re joined by Tracey Carroll – Penn Community Bank Director of Cash Management – to discuss the bank’s new business banking platform, the intersection of relationship banking and technology, and what other products and services could benefit businesses now more than ever.
As the impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be felt by businesses and communities, more and more employers are looking at the potential lasting effects on the workforce of tomorrow. In this episode, we’re joined by Kirsten Palmieri – Human Resources Business Partner with Penn Community Bank – to discuss the bank’s pivot to remote work for its team members, the importance of communication while working from home, and what steps local businesses should take before they consider a new way of working.
How does a bank plan for a pandemic and what do its leaders focus on in times of uncertainty? In this episode, we’re joined by Bill Larkin, Chairman of Penn Community Bank’s Board of Directors, to take a behind the scenes look at his first six months as head of the board. In our conversation, we discuss: Penn Community Bank’s financial strength, the benefit of being a mutual bank, and what comes next for our region as we look to bounce back from COVID-19.
As the coronavirus pandemic – and the global response to it – continue to shape our economy in ways like never before, businesses and analysts are working to get a sense of what a post-pandemic economy looks like and what key indicators today can tell us about 2021 and beyond. In this episode, we’re once again joined by Dorothy Jaworski, Penn Community Bank Director of Treasury and Risk Management, to get her thoughts on the state of the economy and her forecast for what comes next. In our conversation, we discuss:
Dorothy’s latest Economic Update is available HERE. If you would like to sign up to receive this newsletter directly each quarter, email ntaptykoff@penncommunitybank.com
As our communities continue to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, one local hospital is working to meet the nutritional needs of Upper Bucks County students all while keeping an eye on what comes next.
In this episode, we’re joined by Dennis Pfleiger, president of St. Luke’s Quakertown and Upper Bucks Campuses, to discuss their Summer Meals Program and talk about the hospital’s response to COVID-19. In our conversation, we cover: the importance of consistent and healthy meals for developing minds, the “trickle down” effects of the coronavirus pandemic, and what individuals and businesses can do to stay safe and healthy
As communities across our region and the nation grapple with difficult conversations regarding race and equality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd late last month, businesses are placing a renewed focus on the importance of diversity and inclusion.
Since its formation in 2017, Penn Community Bank’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity for All (IDEA) Council has led the organization’s effort to create an open, communicative, and inclusive work environment that recognizes the value of diversity of its Team Members, and their differences. This established culture is reflected in the bank’s organizational relationships with customers, partners, and communities.
In this episode, we’re joined by Falesha Grasty, a Senior Staff Accountant and Chair of Penn Community Bank’s IDEA Council, to discuss the importance of D&I efforts at the bank and what lessons local employers can take away.
As Southeastern Pennsylvania moves into the state’s “Yellow Phase” for economic reopening, many local businesses are pulling double duty – working to reopen their doors AND understand what comes next with their participation in the government’s Paycheck Protection Program. In this episode, we’re joined by Randy Stradling, Penn Community Bank Credit Officer II, to better understand the PPP and how recent changes will impact participating employers. In our conversation we get a glimpse at the unprecedented volume of lending through the program, what Congressional and agency changes mean for loan forgiveness applications, and what comes next comes next for borrowers.
As businesses across every industry respond to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of training and employee development has never been more important. In this episode, we’re joined by Sandy Ziegler – Penn Community Bank Director of Training, Development, & Education – to discuss the importance of training to Penn Community Bank and how this focus can translate to business owners and employees around the community. In our conversation, we discuss the benefits for learning and development for all businesses, how to make your brand “Pandemic Proof,” and what individuals should be doing today to prepare themselves for the jobs of tomorrow.
When most of us think of bank security we likely picture large vault doors. But what does bank security look like in 2020… and in the middle of a global pandemic?
In this episode, we’re joined by former FBI agent and current Penn Community Bank Director of Fraud and Security Management Rick Cimakasky to review his role in keeping customer accounts safe. In our conversation we discuss his transition from law enforcement to banking, old frauds with new COVID-19 twists, and his recommendations for businesses and families looking to keep their money – and data – safe.
While local, state and federal policy makers work to address the fall out of the coronavirus pandemic, it is community businesses and non-profits that find themselves on the front line of responding to needs in their neighborhoods. From economic support for small businesses to access to food and necessities for families, the need for local action has never been greater.
In this episode, we’re joined by Marissa Christie, president and CEO of the United Way of Bucks County, to discuss her organization’s response to community needs during the pandemic and the United Way’s partnership with Penn Community Bank. Later, we talk with Todd Hurley, Chief Relationship Officer at Penn Community Bank, to learn more about the bank’s response to the situation and his message of area non-profits during this period.
From work meetings to happy hours, more of our daily activities are moving online. As consumers and businesses work to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, the realities of personal and business finance continue – even with significant disruption in their normal banking routines.
In this episode, we’re joined by Jim Fecca, Penn Community Bank’s Director of Deposit Services, to discuss the global shift to online finance and what it means for individuals and the industry. In our conversation, we cover: Trends in digital banking; What digital tools people should be using to stay in control of their finances during this period; And will banking ever return to the way it was?
As governments and central banks respond to the unprecedented economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses and economic analysts are trying to read key indicators to inform critical decision making. In this episode, we’re joined by Dorothy Jaworski, Penn Community Bank’s Director of Treasury and Risk Management, to get her thoughts on the state of the economy and her forecast for what comes next. In our conversation, we discuss: The key economic indicators she’s watching, how and why banks are making decisions at this time of volatility, and her reaction to Administration and Fed policies to aid the economy.
As social distancing policies and economic restrictions continue in response to the coronavirus pandemic, more individuals and businesses are relying on digital channels to stay connected. With this surge in online sales, work-from-home requirements, and federal financial relief efforts, comes the increased risk of fraud and cyber threats. In this episode, we’re joined by Karen Shinn, Director of IT Compliance, Cyber Security, and Risk Assessment for Penn Community Bank, to discuss this critical issue. In our conversation, we cover some of the most common types of fraud during this pandemic, how employees can keep their personal and professional data safe while working from home, and tips for small businesses moving sales and service online.
On February 19, the stock market hit its highest mark in history. Less than a month later, on March 11, the coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic, setting off the largest single-day market drop in a generation. In the weeks since, volatility has been the only constant, with near-daily surges and loses as the market reacts to international reports on the virus and economic relief efforts from Washington. In this episode, we talk to Christian Wagner, president of Penn Investment Advisors, to gain a clearer picture of what is driving the volatility of the market, what individuals and families can be doing to protect their wealth during this period, and get his thoughts on what comes next.
