Tag Archives: Microlender

Accion Texas Inc. celebrates five-month lending record

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Accion logo colorAccion Texas Inc. – a nonprofit multi-state micro and small business lender with the nation’s largest microloan portfolio – has surpassed $2 million in loans for the fifth consecutive month.

This is the first time the organization has achieved these figures for five months in a year.

In August, the company disbursed 149 small business loans totaling $2.4 million – nearly $1 million over August 2013, when Accion Texas closed out the month with 117 loans totaling $1.5 million.

The latest figures come on the heels of $2.3 million in April, $2.4 million in May and $2.5 million for June and July, respectively.

In addition to the five-month milestone, Accion Texas Chief Lending Officer Dan Lawless said that two of Accion Texas’s markets achieved their highest monthly numbers ever last month.   Houston, where Accion has operated since 1998, disbursed nearly $450,000 in loans in August and Memphis, Tennessee, where Accion opened in 2012, loaned nearly $100,000.

“These phenomenal numbers reflect both the improving economy and also the fact that more banks and small business owners are becoming aware of Accion Texas and its services,” Lawless said. “Our mission is to provide entrepreneurs with the capital, education and technical assistance they need to start, sustain and grow their small businesses when they may not have access to traditional sources of capital and assistance.  Achieving this level of lending over the past five months confirms that there is a real need for what we offer, that the economy is turning around, and that we are making a positive difference in the many communities we serve.”

Accion Texas President and CEO Janie Barrera said that Accion Texas helps entrepreneurs achieve their dreams.

“We believe in our small businesses and entrepreneurs,” she said. “These are the people who are helping to fuel our economy and strengthen our communities. These impressive results demonstrate that we are reaching more entrepreneurs who, in turn, are realizing their dreams and serving as examples to other aspiring small business owners that they can also achieve success.”

About Accion Texas
Accion Texas Inc. is a nonprofit, multi-state microlending company and small business lender that helps new and existing entrepreneurs successfully grow their businesses. Through affordable lending and business development services, Accion Texas is committed to empowering diverse individuals and small businesses that have limited access to traditional sources of capital. Since its founding in San Antonio in 1994, Accion has made more than 14,000 loans totaling more than $167 million.  Accion now operates in eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. To learn more about Accion’s lending options, call 888-215-2373 or visit www.acciontexas.org.

Crockett National Bank donates $240,000 of unrestricted funds to Accion Texas

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Accion logo colorAccion Texas Inc. – the nation’s largest, nonprofit, micro and small business microlender – has received two large gifts from one of its banking partners, Crockett National Bank. The San Angelo-based bank has committed $200,000 through an unrestricted, zero-interest loan to be “forgiven” every year, as well as a $40,000 monetary gift to Accion Texas.

“The bank believes in giving back to the community and we believe in the Accion Texas mission of helping small businesses that are not bankable get the help needed to get started,” said Dahlia B. Garcia, vice president of small business banking at Crockett National Bank. “As these companies grow, they become bankable and they can come back to us to help them with a traditional loan. We truly believe in what (Accion Texas CEO) Janie Barrera has created in Accion.”

Both gifts will help fund general operations for Accion Texas, which has grown from a small, three-person operation in San Antonio in 1994 to an eight-state enterprise with more than 115 employees in 20 offices today. Accion Texas now lends in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

“We are grateful to Crockett National Bank for its trust and for supporting our operations,” Barrera said. “This gift means that as we grow, we are able to continue to offer the personal, one-on-one services to the entrepreneurs who come to us for help with counseling, mentoring and loans.”

About Accion Texas
Accion Texas Inc.is a nonprofit, multi-state small business microlender that helps new and existing entrepreneurs successfully grow their businesses. Through affordable lending and business development services, Accion Texasis committed to empowering diverse individuals and small businesses that have limited access to traditional sources of capital. Since its founding in San Antonio in 1994, Accion has made more than 14,000 loans totaling more than

$165 million.  Accion now operates in eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. To learn more about Accion’s lending options, call 888-215-2373 or visit www.acciontexas.org.

About Crockett National Bank
Crockett National Bank has grown to over $440 million in assets.  Crockett is among the best performing banks in Texas, ranking in the top 30 percent of 530 Texas bands as of year-end 2013.  It operates offices in San Angelo, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Austin, Georgetown and Ozuna.  For more information, visit www.crockettnationalbank.com.

 

Accion Texas names Harold Oliver to senior management post

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Accion logo colorAccion Texas Inc. – the nation’s largest microlender – announces the appointment of Harold Oliver as chief external affairs officer.

With more than 20 years of experience in communications, government and corporate relations, economic and community development and legislative work, Oliver brings a wealth of experience to his new position.

He oversees all legislative, communications and development team processes and personnel for Accion Texas. He is responsible for all aspects of public relations, marketing and other outreach that enhance Accion’s public image and brand. In addition, he is charged with developing and maintaining all external and internal constituencies, monitoring Accion’s legislative and policy priorities throughout its 21-city, eight-state footprint – and representing Accion at the state and federal levels.

HaroldOliver2CEAO08202013“Harold is a wonderful addition to our senior management team and I am very happy that he has joined us,” said Accion Texas President and CEO Janie Barrera. “His breadth of experience and strong relationships with leaders in the private and public sectors will be a tremendous asset to our organization as we continue our mission of helping small businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed and thrive.”

Prior to joining Accion, Oliver was the managing principal of TX Capitol Consulting Group LLC, from 2005 to 2013. In that capacity, he represented his clients’ interests before the Texas legislature and local governments, particularly in the fields of economic development, community and neighborhood development and transportation.

From 1994 to 2004, he worked as legislative assistant to the late Texas State Senator Frank Madla, assisting on the Senate Committee on Transportation Infrastructure and Homeland Security as well as the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce.

Oliver’s extensive and successful legislative work with Madla included the creation and funding of the new Texas A&M campus in San Antonio, and drafting and negotiating the bill that created the Defense Area Management Authority for San Antonio. He was part of the state’s negotiating team for the Toyota Motor Manufacturing project for San Antonio and helped draft the legislation relating to Toyota’s incentive package.

Further, Oliver was intimately involved in the creation of the Defense Readjustment Zone for Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio and the accompanying Defense Readjustment Fund with the initial funding of $20 million. Finally, he rewrote the State of Texas’ policy on Insurance Solicitation and Financial Modernization.

Oliver currently serves on the board of the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Foundation and served as inaugural chairman. Other civic involvement has included serving as the chair of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, a director of The Texas Lyceum, the chair of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee and co-chair of the 2011 San Antonio March of Dimes “Fund the Mission” gala. He also has served on the boards of the Friends of Big Bend National Park and the Jewish Family and Children Services Organization.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science from Incarnate Word College (now the University of the Incarnate Word) and a master of science degree in public administration from St. Mary’s University. He also studied law at the University of Oxford in England and completed his juris doctorate degree at St. Mary’s University School of Law.

About Accion Texas Inc.
Established in 1994 in San Antonio, Accion Texas Inc.’s financial and business-support services help entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, stabilize and increase their incomes, create employment and contribute to the economic revitalization of their communities.

Accion Texas manages the nation’s largest nonprofit microloan portfolio in the nation and is the largest member of the Accion U.S. Network. It is committed to providing capital to entrepreneurs who do not have access to loans from commercial sources and to providing educational services to help them succeed. Since its inception, Accion Texas has made 13,700 loans totaling nearly $148 million. Accion now operates in 21 offices in eight states – Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. For more information, visit www.acciontexas.org.