CHASE/UEDC AFFINITY CREDIT CARD PROPOSALEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(submitted to Bank One 1996)
United Affirmative Action Development Corp (UAAD) is a 501c 3 non profit with its affiliation with United Equity Development Corporation (UEDC), is proposing a collaborative financial program with Participating Banks to encourage greater participation in African American and other minority communities, as part of an economic, community and human development initiative. UEDC’s primary goal is to provide financial institutions with solutions to existing problems commonly experienced by African Americans and other minorities, as it relates to standard banking and lending practices. UEDC will serve as a conduit using experienced marketing and public relations methods to encourage individuals, communities and businesses to take advantage of opportunities by utilizing financial institutions that are participants in this joint venture. Through this process, UEDC will penetrate untapped markets and provide them with the technical assistance required to qualify for personal, consumer, or commercial loans, as well as encourage them to use other services of the Participating Bank. In an effort to assure large numbers of participants in this process, UAAD/ UEDC’s professional staff has established objectives which are consistent with achieving its stated goal:
1. To target and secure cooperation with businesses, community projects, public housing developments and other geographically defined low-income neighborhoods that would benefit minorities, communities, businesses and the Participating Bank.
2. To provide expertise beneficial to minorities and encourage them to utilize available community supportive resources.
3. To provide assistance to minorities in credit repair, loan application preparation and prescribed methods of loan repayments.
4. To negotiate benefits and discounts for minorities with the Participating Banks.
5. To develop statistical data and conduct surveys regarding community needs.
and
6. To coordinate available resources, i.e., local, state, federal and financial institutions for the purpose of establishing relationships which result in developing long term economic development strategies for minority communities.
UAAD,s proposed concept focuses on four major areas. They are partnerships, economic development, research and community participation.
Partnerships pertain to methods of increasing linkages with large and small financial institutions, government institutions, professional consultants and other non-profit organizations that have a common interest in community investments. UAAD recognizes that such partnerships are mutually beneficial to all parties. The Participating Bank will gain access to untapped markets and UAAD will receive the fiscal support necessary to achieve its stated goal and objectives. The community receives benefits of direct linkages and easier access to available financial resources.
Economic Development issues consist of creating opportunities with private and public agencies, large and small businesses that are eligible to bid for public and private contracts with the support of the Participating Bank. In this process, UAAD will develop a five year educational and informational campaign to encourage and nurture the development of entrepreneurship within the minority communities. UAAD will expose these communities to the fundamental link between small business creation and community development. This will be done in coordination with organizations and institutions already established in this field, i.e., Small Business Administration, Southern University of New Orleans, etc.
Overall, UAAD has determined that more self-reliant and interdependent African American communities require solid research methodology and execution. For this reason, Research has been considered an integral part of this project. UAAD recognizes the necessity and importance of planning on the basis of quality information. Using the data and information collected, as the primary resource, UAAD will:
1. Interpret, analyze and make recommendations regarding trends and new program direction.
2. Research programs that will provide a vehicle whereby African American and other minority communities will participate in shaping their own financial future.
and
3. Include ways for African Americans and other minorities to invest in banking institutions within the communities that provide opportunities which result in financial growth and stimulation.
Through the Community Partnership process, UAAD will utilize available community resources, i.e., existing enterprises, small business administrations, community based organizations, churches, masjids, colleges, universities, and other agencies to create a vehicle through which extended partnerships are established. UAAD will provide training opportunities for individuals making a transition from school to work and encourage the expansion of employment opportunities for community members. While UAAD is concerned about expanding the enterprise sector of African Americans and minorities, it is equally concerned about assisting businesses owned by the stated groups to become more efficient, competitive and profitable.
Note: This project concept was submitted to Bank One 1996
The success of this project will be obtained through UAAD’s affiliation with UEDC and other for profit institutions. UAAD’s collaboration with Chase Bank will assist our associates in reaching economic parity in the communities that this bank serves.
In 1996 This is what Premier Bank and later Bank One said they would do at GSU and the City of Grambling, LA
First USA PartnershipLetter from First USA Partners 8/99
I would like to thank you for providing First USA Bank with the opportunity to bid on the affinity credit card business for UEDC. We are currently looking at groups with a membership or 20,000. Unfortunately your current membership of 2,500 does not meet the bank's present size requirements; therefore I must respectfully decline at this time. I wish you success with your organization and will be happy to reevaluate the opportunity as your membership grows.
Suzanne M. Devoe, Vice President Research
See:
http://newhire.jpmorganchase.com/ba-lob/card-services/business-basics.html http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/creditcards.cfm http://www.allbusiness.com/periodicals/article/696707-1.html http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=6F0CE2DD133BF936A15754A Letter from Julia F. JohnsonLetter from Bank One Columbus, OH dated 2/96
Mr. Ellis,
As a follow up to our telephone conversation, I have exchanged calls with representatives of Premier Bank and they are aware that you and I have spoken. I have discussed your request for assistance with Aline Creed of Premier in Baton Rouge. She advises me that she and Nathan Thornton have been in contact with the bank's Public Funds Department and that they intend to visit with you at some date in the near future regarding facility needs in Grambling. I shared with Ms Creed our willingness to assist, and that our community development resources were available to her. I would encourage you to continue your dialogue with Ms. Creed and Mr. Thornton. They have assured me that they are making every effort to understand the scope of issues in Grambling and that they intend to fully respond to those issues. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms Creed if you have any continuing concerns. We look forward to be being of assistance and having the opportunity to address the lending needs of the Grambling market.
Julia F. Johnson, Senior Vice President
A Letter from L. Biff Motley PREMIER BANK L. Biff Motley
Senior Executive Vice Pres
Post Office Box 1511
Baton Rouge, La 70821
April 17, 1996 504 332 7021
Mr. Walter Ellis
United Affirmative Action Development Corp
P.O. Box 1076
Grambling, LA 71245
Dear Mr. Ellis,
Thank you for bringing your proposal to Premier Bank. We are always interested in better understanding the financial services needed by the people and the businesses in our community.
Regrettably, Premier cannot provide you with the $300,000 you requested which would be used by your organization as a research grant to find six month’s of operating expenses for a needs assessment study.
However, we have begun to explore the possibilities of a business relationship structured on loan referrals made by the United Affirmative Action Development Corporation. At present we are considering what the appropriate fee arrangement might be based on the dollar amount of the loan closed by the bank as a result of a referral. From our initial investigation a sliding scale appears to be the logical method to employ. Under this method the fee would be a percentage that decreases with the size of the loan with a per transaction cap. As I understand it, your clients would not contribute to the cost of the service your organization would be providing and we would not expect to pass the expense onto the borrower. Soto determine a price that is economically justified for the Bank, our business loan administration area will need to further evaluate a fee structure using product profitability models.
Please be advised that any business accepted on referral from United Affirmative Action Development Corporation will need to include acknowledgment from the applicant regarding any business arrangements between your organization and the Bank and waiver allowing the Bank to share the applicant’s financial information with third parties.
Thank you again for choosing Premier Bank soon to be known as Bank One, Louisiana, National, Association. I look forward to hearing more about the activities of you organization from Nathan Thornton and helping to serve the banking needs of your members and clients.
Sincerely,
L. Biff Motley, EVP c: Julia Johnson
NathanThornton
Aline Creed
Requests for Agreements DATE: May 22, 1996
TO: Jim Austin
FROM: Aline Creed
RE: Request for Agreements
Jim, I need your help in preparing two agreements. One agreement would be between the bank and an organization that will be referring commercial loan customers to us. We have decided to pay the organization 1% of the principal loan amount up to $5,000 per transaction for business applicants brought to us by the organization and for whom a loan request is granted and closed. I want to be sure the agreement is clear on the following points:I. We will not pay if the applicant is an existing customer or comes to us directly without introduction by the organization.II. We will only pay for closed loans, not for applications or approvals not booked. I am concerned about a loan that might pay off immediately, so we may want to say the payment is for the first loan granted, but does not include subsequent extensions or renewals.III. We also want to be sure the applicant knows the organization’s role in that they are to help prepare the loan proposal and assist the borrower with the process – services for which they will be paid.The desire for this kind of disclosure to the ultimate borrower and the need to protect the bank regarding financial privacy issues leads to the need for a second agreement. This second agreement would be between the borrower and the organization acknowledging the fee and permitting the sharing of the borrower’s financial information between the bank and the organization. If the organization is to operate as planned, they would be obtaining financials, working up proposals and negotiating with the bank on behalf of the applicant. I want to be sure we are covered for both commercial situations and those that may wind up more consumer oriented, so we can pull a credit bureau, discuss the request, begin valuation of collateral, etc with the organization as well as the applicant. We also want to make sure the applicant knows the organization is not doing him a favor that it is in fact being paid.We have two or three requests for credit under this arrangement currently in process, so it is important that we get the first agreement worked up relatively soon, preferably in the next two weeks. Please let me know if this is not possible, so I can make arrangement with outside counsel. If you’ve got any questions please call me, Chuck Beard or Nathan Thornton. Thanks for your help.(UAAD received this fax on 5/25/96 @ 10:57 a.m. from 504-332-7295 Gen Bank Group/Premier Bank Marketing – Compliance)
On April 4, 2006, Chase Bank officials and Mr. David Lewis of the OCC, met with UAAD in Ruston, LA. Mr. Ruben Ramos stated he would put UAAD in touch with JPMorganChase Bank’s Affinity Credit Card Division within 24 hours, to discuss an Affinity Credit Card Agreement.
Presentation to JPMorganChase Bank of Louisiana
Community Partnership Division
OVERVIEW
The goals of our thrust with JPMorgan Chase Bank of Louisiana are as follows:
1. To establish and maintain an effective ongoing working relationship between Chase Bank and United Affirmative Action Development (UAAD) Corp.
2. To better acquaint the officers of JPMorgan Chase and other representatives of the banking and financial services community of the mission and goals of the UAAD Corporation as they pertain to the Community Re-investment Act of 1977.
3. To develop long-term partnership strategies designed to help bring economic parity and to eliminate inequitable lending practices for Louisiana citizens who have historically been disenfranchised by inequitable lending and financial accessibility practices.
ORGANIZATION HISTORY AND MISSIONThe United Affirmative Action Development (UAAD) Corporation is a 501© 3 non-profit organization that was found in California in 1992 and began operation in Louisiana in 1996. UAAD is national in scope with emphasis on state and local initiatives developing and empowering low and income residents to initiate and to tailor the CRA investment and other financial and community resources to their specific community needs. This endeavor will assist African-Americans in achieving economic parity, while simultaneously establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with their respective participating local banks and other financial institutions.
The mission of UAAD is to serve as both a leader and a conduit in converging financial services with community and educational resources, such as Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Our corporation is positioned to serve as the premier broker of financial services, with emphasis on the Community Re-investment Act (CRA) of 1977, between financial institutions and the target population.
TARGET POPULATIONThis initial effort is designed to serve Louisiana residents who are African-Americans or members of other minority groups. Significantly, scholarship opportunities will be made available to African-American students enrolled or plan to enroll in HBCU institutions. Grambling State University will serve as our pilot project for this initiative. Particular emphasis will be given to help residents negatively impacted by Hurricane Katrina in their continuing restabilizing efforts.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONAs aforementioned, UAAD plans to increase economic parity for low and moderate-income citizens of Louisiana with a concentration on the African-American population.
Under the auspices of CRA, our corporation proposes to accomplish this broad and complex objective through varied and mixed approaches to include, but not limited to, the following strategies:
1. To establish and maintain long-term effective collaborative relationships with and between a broad range of entities such as banks and other lending institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Civil Rights organizations, churches and faith-based institutions, and self-help and grassroots organizations. Both traditional and non-traditional students would be encouraged to pursue careers in banking and financial services, computer and technology, and International fields.
2. To establish Business Development Centers (BDC) centers throughout the State of Louisiana, providing both accessibility and the necessary financial literacy training to enable members of the target population to acquire the necessary education and tools to become and remain financial solvent, and thereby self-sufficient in society. These centers will be holistic as they will help to establish family-owned businesses, to include dislocated citizens, as well as other entrepreneurial programs.
3. To insure that any African-American high school or adult student, who is a resident of Louisiana, desiring a post secondary education is given that opportunity through a scholarship program made available through the Community Re-investment Act (CRA).
4. As a long-term preventive and intervention strategy, to work with the education systems, at both the state and district levels, to incorporate financial literacy programs into the education curriculum, enable our young people to enter adulthood and life with a sound knowledge of how our economic and financial systems are structured, and of equal importance, how it impacts them individually and collectively
PARTNERSHIPS AND COOPERATING AGENCIES
Louisiana Association of Non-profit Organizations (LANO)
Recycling Black Dollars - national in scope, based in Los Angeles, California
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Louisiana banking institutions to include, but not limited to, JPMorgan Chase,
One United Bank and Liberty Bank
NAACP Branches – State of Louisiana
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
