We are joining the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service Mentor-Protégé Program.

U.S. Bank will mentor First Independence Bank, a minority-owned community bank in Detroit, Mich., as part of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service Mentor-Protégé Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. During the three-year commitment, U.S. Bank will provide guidance and insight to First Independence Bank as it strives to become a provider of financial services to the Treasury Department. 

“With the mentor-protégé program the Treasury Department intentionally recognizes the importance of small banks in our economy, banks that have historically and traditionally served mostly their local communities,” said Corvelli McDaniel, Assistant Commissioner of Revenue Collections for Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. “Now, through a period of preparation and mentorship, small banks will have an opportunity to serve the nation.” 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has launched the mentor-protégé program to broaden the capacity of small and community banks. By establishing relationships between the largest commercial banks and small protégé banks, Treasury seeks to expand networks within the financial services industry and to facilitate the inclusion of a broader range of financial institutions in Treasury business opportunities.

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with First Independence Bank, leveraging our 30 years of experience as an innovative, trusted advisor and financial agent of the U.S. Treasury,” said Russell Zint, senior vice president and division manager of Federal Banking for U.S. Bank. “First Independence Bank’s values align with ours and we believe our collaboration will lead to broader minority involvement in U.S. Treasury business and greater economic development in our communities.” 

“We consider this a high honor and grand opportunity to serve as financial agents to the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a U.S. Bank mentee in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service Mentor-Protégé Program,” says Kenneth Kelly, chairman & CEO, First Independence Bank. “First Independence Bank keeps its customer’s needs at the forefront at all times, so an opportunity such as this, positions us for continued growth in areas that will allow us to better serve new and existing customers at an expanded level locally and nationally. It will be our goal to demonstrate with U.S. Bank, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury that mentorship in business is a benefit to all.”

U.S. Bank is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion as one of its core values. The company recently invested $1 million in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Additionally, U.S. Bank committed $1 million in the Chicago Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, providing capital to minority-owned small businesses on Chicago’s South and West sides.