John Anderson Included in 15th Edition of Best Law Firms

John Anderson was recently recognized once again in the 15th edition of Best Law Firms. Congratulations to John for being included in this extremely impressive group.

Best Law Firms’ rankings celebrate firms that have consistently demonstrated excellence in legal expertise and industry knowledge. Each firm included has been rigorously evaluated based on client feedback, peer recommendations, leadership interviews and the depth of their practice. The result is a comprehensive guide for businesses and individuals seeking top-tier legal counsel in the United States.

American Bankers Mutual Insurance Approaches $105 Million in Total Distributions

The American Bankers Association recently announced that American Bankers Mutual Insurance, the reinsurer for the ABA-endorsed insurance program, has declared a $3.8 million annual distribution to be shared by qualified ABA member banks insured through ABA Insurance Services, a member of Great American Insurance Group.

This is the 35th consecutive year that the professional liability and bond insurance provider has declared distributions to eligible ABA member banks, bringing the total to $104.6 million since the program’s inception. ABA member banks that purchase their directors and officers (D&O), bond, cyber, property and casualty, and related insurances from this program are eligible to receive a distribution.

Native-Focused Organizations Receive More than $6 Million in Grants from Wells Fargo

Across a six-state region, 33 nonprofits received a total of $6.4 million in grant funding from Wells Fargo’s Invest Native Initiative to strengthen housing access and affordability, small business growth, financial health and sustainability in Native communities. The funding is part of Wells Fargo’s two-year effort focused on collaborating with Native organizations and communities in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Grantees share that Invest Native funding is anticipated to deliver tangible community outcomes, including:

• Producing 156 homes for purchase and 102 homes for rent;
• Serving an estimated 2,000 small businesses, including more than 1,500 sole proprietor businesses;
• Supporting businesses in creating 322 jobs and preserving 477 jobs;
• Facilitating debt reduction for 1,000 participants, with total debt reduction exceeding $1 million;
• Providing financial counseling or coaching to more than 8,000 Native people; and
• Training 27 community-based organizations on climate resiliency topics.

Trevor Lewis, Executive Vice President of Capra Bank, Receives CNM Distinguished Alumni Award

Trevor Lewis, executive vice president of Capra Bank, recently received the CNM Distinguished Alumni Award.

This prestigious award recognizes CNM alumni who have attained distinction in their professional field or life, which reflects the mission and values of CNM. The CNM Foundation established the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 to highlight the outstanding accomplishments of their graduates. The awards are presented annually at the CNM Foundation Donor Appreciation Dinner.

After graduating from TVI in 2002, Trevor continued his education at the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance in 2004 and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Studies in 2006.

He is also committed to giving back to his community through business by keeping lending products local and volunteering his expertise in numerous areas. Collaborating with the UNM Anderson School of Management and the New Mexico Bankers Association, Trevor helped initiate a banking internship program, which is now in its seventh year.

Sunflower Bank, N.A. Donates Over $132,000 to Education

Sunflower Bank, N.A. (home of NMBA Board Member Scott Czarniak) donated $103,590 to K-12 schools through its 2023-24 ABC Program for Education campaign, with an additional $28,5000 awarded to students in 2024 for academic achievements. Since 2001, the program has contributed more than $1.8 million to education in Sunflower Bank and the First National 1870 communities.

“Sunflower Bank’s ABC Program for Education continues to highlight our commitment to our youth and their academic success. Our bank is passionate about the support we provide to our communities, and helping K-12 schools raise direct funds has been a core component of that support since 2001. We take pride in the $1.8 million we have donated over the years and look forward to continuing to grow that number as we support our schools and students,” said Mollie Carter, executive chairman of Sunflower Bank. “The ABC Program is an important way that we partner with local educational and financial literacy initiatives everywhere we serve. Providing much-needed support to local schools and encouraging academic achievement in our youth is one way we create possibility for our communities.”