This expansion reinforces the company’s position as a pioneer in digital transformation solutions for the financial services industry. Equisoft has been a major technology provider to insurers in the Caribbean since 2012. Equisoft’s work with close to twenty insurers in the region created the need for the new office to get closer to the market and customers and to address surging demands in the Caribbean.

This office location will provide optimal service to Equisoft’s current customers and position them to effectively meet the growing demand in the Caribbean.

“As we celebrate Equisoft’s 30^th anniversary, the opening of our new office in Port of Spain, Trinidad, stands as a testament to our commitment to innovation and client satisfaction. This expansion is a milestone for us and underscores our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our clients and the industry” said Ruben Veerasamy, Equisoft Senior Vice President, Caribbean.

The new office is located at 11-13 Victoria Avenue, 2nd. Floor, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

About Equisoft

Founded in 1994, Equisoft is a global provider of advanced insurance and investment digital solutions. Recognized as a valued partner by over 250 of the world’s leading financial institutions, Equisoft offers a complete ecosystem of solutions, from innovative front-end applications to extensive back-office services and unique data migration expertise. The firm’s flagship solutions include SaaS policy administration, CRM, financial needs analysis, financial planning, asset allocation, fund and portfolio analysis, quotes and illustrations, electronic application, agency management systems, as well as customer, agent and broker portals. With its business-driven approach, deep industry knowledge, innovative technology, and multicultural team of experts based in North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, Equisoft helps its clients tackle any challenge in this era of digital disruption. For more information, please visit www.equisoft.com.

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CALGARY, AB, Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Parkland Corporation (”Parkland”, “we”, the “Company”, or “our”) (TSX: PKI) – announced that starting today, Aeroplan members can begin earning and redeeming points at Parkland’s approximately 1,200 participating Ultramar, Chevron, Pioneer, FasGas, ON the RUN and Marché Express Canadian retail locations.

First announced in April, the partnership between JOURNIE™ Rewards and Aeroplan brings together two Canadian loyalty giants to offer members increased earning and redemption power. Members who link their Aeroplan and JOURNIE™ Rewards accounts can earn up to 3X the points and can access a greater choice of new benefits including savings on convenience items, M&M Food Market, and carwashes.

“We are delighted to welcome Aeroplan members to our national network of retail fuel and convenience stores,” said Uwe Stueckmann, SVP Strategic Marketing and Innovation at Parkland. “The JOURNIE™ and Aeroplan partnership provides members of both programs with a seamless way to turn everyday fuel and convenience purchases into meaningful rewards.”

“Aeroplan is thrilled to be partnering with Parkland and JOURNIE™ Rewards,” said Scott O’Leary, Vice President, Loyalty and Product at Air Canada. “Together we’re excited to give our members more choice, and more ways to get rewarded at every fill-up.”

Parkland’s extensive Canada-wide retail network offers Aeroplan members new and convenient ways to earn Aeroplan points. Members can now get closer to the trip they want and access a range of benefits across the travel journey, including hotels, vacation packages, and car rentals.

JOURNIE™ Rewards is calling on all Aeroplan members to sign up for JOURNIE™ to enhance their rewards experience and boost their earning potential.

Parkland’s JOURNIE™ Rewards provides its customers with access to rewards and benefits as they shop across our coast-to-coast network of approximately 1,200 participating fuel and convenience stores. With real-time fuel savings, free merchandise and targeted food and convenience offers, members earn through their purchases of fuel, convenience items, food and other services at participating Chevron, Ultramar, Pioneer, FasGas and ON the RUN / Marché Express retail locations.

JOURNIE™ Rewards unifies Parkland’s family of consumer brands to deliver one great customer experience and help customers make the most of every stop. Through JOURNIE™ Rewards’ financial services partner, CIBC, our members can go even further when they link their CIBC card with their JOURNIE™ Rewards membership.

Visit journie.ca to sign up today.

Parkland is an international fuel distributor, marketer, and convenience retailer with operations in 25 countries across the Americas. We serve over one million customers each day. Our vast retail network meets the fuel and convenience needs of everyday consumers. Our commercial operations provide businesses with industrial fuels so that they can better serve their customers. With approximately 4,000 retail and commercial locations across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean region, we have developed supply, distribution and trading capabilities to accelerate growth and business performance.

In addition to meeting our customers’ needs for essential fuels, we provide a range of choices to help them lower their environmental impact. These include carbon and renewables trading, solar power, renewables manufacturing and ultra-fast EV charging. Parkland’s proven business model is centered around organic growth, our supply advantage, and is driven by scale, our integrated refinery and supply infrastructure, and focus on acquiring prudently and integrating successfully.

Our strategy is focused on developing our existing business in resilient markets, growing our food, convenience and renewable energy businesses and helping customers to decarbonize. Our business is underpinned by our people, our values of safety, integrity, community and respect, which are deeply embedded across our organization.

Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger and freighter aircraft.  Air Canada has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OCTQX in the US.

“We are delighted to welcome Nora to our Board of Directors,” said Jim Pantelidis, Chairman of the Board. “Nora brings extensive executive experience spanning human resources, sustainability, acquisition and development, operations, and customer service. We expect our Board and Parkland’s shareholders will benefit greatly from her expertise and contributions.”

Ms. Duke’s career includes over 35 years within the Fortis group of companies, a diversified leader in the North American electric and gas utility industry. Most recently, Ms. Duke served as Executive Vice President, Sustainability and Chief Human Resource Officer at Fortis Inc., the parent company. Previously, Ms. Duke was Chief Executive Officer of Fortis Properties Corporation, and prior to that served as its Vice President, Hospitality Services.  Ms. Duke also served as Vice President of Customer and Corporate Services, at Fortis subsidiary, Newfoundland Power.

Ms. Duke has significant board experience in the corporate, industry and community sectors.  She currently sits on the board of the Institute of Corporate Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master of Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland and has an ICD.D designation.

Ms. Duke’s appointment forms part of Parkland’s ongoing Board refreshment process, and closely follows the recent election of Michael Christiansen and Marc Halley.

Parkland is an international fuel distributor and retailer with operations in twenty-five countries. Our purpose is to Power Journeys and Energize Communities, and every day, we provide over one million customers with the essential fuels, convenience items and quality foods on which they depend.

With approximately 4,000 retail and commercial locations across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean region, we have developed supply, distribution, and trading capabilities to accelerate growth and business performance. In addition to meeting our customers’ needs for essential fuels, we provide a range of choices to help them lower their environmental impact. These include carbon and renewables trading, solar power, renewables manufacturing and ultrafast Electric Vehicle charging.

Our proven business model is centered around organic growth, our supply advantage, driven by scale and our integrated refinery and supply infrastructure, acquiring prudently, and integrating successfully. Our strategy is focused on developing our existing business in resilient markets, growing our food, convenience, and renewable energy businesses, and helping customers to decarbonize. Our business is underpinned by our people, and our values; safety, integrity, community, and respect, which are deeply embedded across our organization.

In December 2022, the St Kitts and Nevis Head of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Michael Martin, announced the enactment of the updated St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2023, which included the introduction of the LTO for the SGF investment option effective 1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023.

On 29 June 2023, Michael Martin made the following comment regarding the LTO:

“We have received an overwhelming response and demand for our Sustainable Growth Fund investment option through the Limited Time Offer and felt that we had to extend the offering for another seven months until 31 January 2024. International investors continue to see the value of the world’s first and finest Citizenship by Investment Programme and this proves it”.

The SGF remains the quickest and easiest route to alternative citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis and now until 31 January 2024, a main applicant can acquire alternative citizenship by contributing only US$125,000 to the SGF and receiving approval in principle within 60 days of acknowledgement by the CIU of submission of their application.

Under the LTO, the minimum SGF contributions are as follows:

• Single applicant – US$ 125,000
• Main applicant and a spouse – US$150,000

• Main applicant and up to three dependants – US$170,000
• Each additional dependant under 18 – US$10,000
• Each additional dependant over 18 – US$25,000

Revenue from the SGF has facilitated economic development and social upliftment in the country. The SGF is used to provide financial support to educational institutions, and medical facilities, as well as support infrastructural development, increase tourism, preserve local culture and heritage and support sustainable growth initiatives in the twin-island nation.

Discerning investors are seeing the benefits of being part of St Kitts and Nevis’ success story. Following upgrades to the CBI Regulations, the country now offers one of the most secure and best-regulated investment migration offerings in the world.

This means that international investors looking to hedge their bets in a stable and growing economy should look no further than St Kitts and Nevis.

This extension is a fantastic opportunity for investors to obtain citizenship through the LTO. This is a final extension and from 1 February 2024, the minimum SGF contribution will increase to the amounts prior to the LTO period.

The country is making sure that it has only the best to offer international entrepreneurs and families who have realised that global powerhouses are no longer illustrious investment options due to security risks. Investors want to ensure that they can safeguard their families and wealth in a global economy that has been offering nothing but uncertainty since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Smaller governments such as that of St Kitts and Nevis have found ways, through CBI, to protect themselves from global shocks, offer favourable business policies aimed at growing corporations in international markets and, by using international funds channelled to the SGF, can diversify and grow their economy to meet global needs.

St Kitts and Nevis continues to create a name for itself as a financial nexus in the Caribbean with an attractive CBI programme underpinned by a sound legal framework and robust multi-layered due diligence.

For nearly 40 years, St Kitts and Nevis has been the pioneer of the global investor immigration industry and those who recognise this are taking advantage of the LTO.

St Kitts and Nevis continues to create a name for itself as a financial nexus in the Caribbean with an attractive CBI programme underpinned by a sound legal framework and robust multi-layered due diligence.

For nearly 40 years, St Kitts and Nevis has been the pioneer of the global investor immigration industry and those who recognise this are taking advantage of the LTO.

ibex Appoints Tamara Ricketts-Brown Jamaica Country Manager

Tamara Ricketts-Brown Jamaica Country Manager press release graphic

CARIBPR WIRE, KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 28, 2023: ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer engagement technology solutions, today announced that Tamara Ricketts-Brown has been appointed Senior Vice President and Country Manager of ibex in Jamaica.

With more than 20 years of experience serving the Retail, Travel, Finance, and Insurance verticals and leading multiple departments, including HR, Recruiting, Facilities, Security, and Employee Engagement, Ricketts-Brown will lead ibex’s operations in Jamaica and report to David Wilkerson, EVP of Operations at ibex.

“We are delighted to welcome Tamara to the growing ibex family,” said David Afdahl, Chief Operations Officer at ibex. “A dynamic operations leader with deep CX experience and a proven track record of success in managing and developing large teams, Tamara is the ideal person to drive our continued growth and success in Jamaica.”

Prior to joining ibex, Tamara was with Sutherland Global Services for five years. Previously, she spent more than 13 years at Xerox in multiple senior-level roles, including Division Vice President. Tamara holds an MBA from the University of Sunderland.

“I am excited to join ibex and lead the company’s fast-growing operations in Jamaica,” said Ricketts-Brown. “ibex brings together the best talent, training, culture, and technology in Jamaica to deliver amazing customer experiences for many of the world’s leading brands. I look forward to applying my skills, expertise, and passion to build on ibex’s tremendous success by developing and implementing initiatives that create an even better experience for our employees and greater value for our clients.”

Since opening its first site in Jamaica in 2016, ibex has been recognized for its culture, employee experience and development, and service, having been selected as Best Place to Work for Women in Central America and the Caribbean by Great Place to Work, Nearshore Company of the Year by Nearshore Americas, and Central America and Caribbean Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan.

About ibex
ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage, and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of 34 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next-generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthtech, fintech, utilities and logistics.

ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including its Wave X platform, to manage nearly 200 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40f206fa-e9f1-4481-8151-f857c91697af

ibex nombra a Tamara Ricketts-Brown gerente de país en Jamaica

Líder dinámica aporta más de 20 años de experiencia en operaciones al galardonado BPO

ibex nombra a Tamara Ricketts-Brown, gerente de país en Jamaica

Comunicado de prensa gráfico de Tamara Ricketts-Brown, gerente de país en Jamaica

CARIBPR WIRE, KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 28, 2023: ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), un proveedor líder mundial de outsourcing de procesos empresariales (BPO) y soluciones de tecnología de participación del cliente, anunció hoy que Tamara Ricketts-Brown fue nombrada vicepresidenta sénior y gerente de ibex en Jamaica.

Con más de 20 años de experiencia sirviendo a los sectores minorista, viajes, finanzas y seguros y liderando varios departamentos, incluyendo recursos humanos, reclutamiento, instalaciones, seguridad y participación de los empleados, Ricketts-Brown liderará las operaciones de ibex en Jamaica y se reportará a David Wilkerson, vicepresidente ejecutivo de operaciones de ibex.

“Estamos muy contentos de dar la bienvenida a Tamara a la cada vez más extensa familia ibex”, dijo David Afdahl, director de operaciones de ibex. “Una líder dinámica en operaciones con una profunda experiencia en CX (experiencia del cliente) y una trayectoria comprobada de éxito en gestión y desarrollo de grandes equipos, Tamara es la persona ideal para impulsar nuestro crecimiento y éxito continuos en Jamaica”.

Antes de unirse a ibex, Tamara trabajó en Sutherland Global Services durante cinco años. Anteriormente, permaneció más de 13 años en Xerox en varios roles de nivel ejecutivo, como vicepresidenta de división. Tamara cuenta con un MBA de University of Sunderland.

“Estoy muy emocionada de unirme a ibex y liderar las operaciones de rápido crecimiento de la empresa en Jamaica”, dijo Ricketts-Brown. “ibex reúne el mejor talento, capacitación, cultura y tecnología en Jamaica para ofrecer experiencias increíbles al cliente para muchas de las marcas líderes mundiales. Espero aplicar mis conocimientos, experiencia y pasión para continuar el extraordinario éxito de ibex con el desarrollo e implementación de iniciativas que crean una experiencia aún mejor para nuestros empleados y un mayor valor para nuestros clientes”.

Desde la apertura de su primer sitio en Jamaica en 2016, ibex fue reconocida por su cultura, experiencia, desarrollo del empleado y servicios y fue seleccionada como el Mejor lugar para trabajar para la mujer en Centroamérica y el Caribe por Great Place to Work, Empresa Nearshore del año por Nearshore Americas y Empresa del año en Centroamérica y el Caribe por Frost & Sullivan.

Acerca de ibex
ibex ofrece outsourcing de procesos empresariales (BPO) innovadores, marketing digital inteligente, tecnología de adquisición en línea y soluciones de participación del cliente de extremo a extremo para ayudar a las empresas en la adquisición, participación y retención de clientes valiosos. Hoy, ibex opera un modelo de centro de entrega de experiencia del cliente (CX) global que consiste de 34 instalaciones de operaciones en todo el mundo, al mismo tiempo que implementa tecnología de última generación para promover experiencias superiores para el cliente para muchas de las empresas líderes mundiales en los sectores minorista, comercio electrónico, tecnología de salud, tecnología financiera (fintech), servicios públicos y logística.

ibex aprovecha su diverso equipo global de más de 30.000 empleados junto con tecnología líder en el sector, incluyendo su plataforma Wave X, para la gestión de cerca de 200 millones de interacciones críticas con clientes, añadiendo más de $2.2 mil millones en ingresos vitalicios de clientes cada año e impulsando una experiencia de cliente verdaderamente diferenciada. Para más información, visite nuestro sitio web ibex.co y comuníquese con nosotros en LinkedIn.

na foto asociada con este comunicado de prensa está disponible en https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40f206fa-e9f1-4481-8151-f857c91697af/spa

CARIBPR WIRE, Miami, Florida, Mon. June 12th, 2023 – Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc (CAB), the representative body and recognized voice for banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean.

The partnership’s central objective is to enable cross-border payments across all CAB member jurisdictions, as a powerful tool to tend to the region’s unbanked and underbanked populations and bolster financial inclusion and economic growth. As part of its commitment, Mastercard will activate its technology, resources, and expertise to help banks successfully integrate this innovative solution into their product offerings, as well as share its knowledge and educational platforms to raise awareness among citizens and small business owners on the benefits of this service and other digital financial tools that can help them reach their fullest potential and improve their living standards.

Mayra Vivacqua, Cluster Lead for Mastercard Caribbean (West & Dutch, Jamaica & East Caribbean, and Puerto Rico), said “We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc, which will drive the region’s digitalization and offer customers across various sectors, including consumers, SMEs, government agencies, B2B, and commercial entities, a safer, easier, and more convenient way of transferring money across borders. The knowledge and data we will leverage from this collaboration will enable us to advance financial inclusion and stimulate economic growth in the Caribbean region.”

Mastercard Cross-Border Services help banks modernize and optimize their global payments business to deliver an experience for people and businesses that is secure, seamless, and certain. Ultimately, the collaboration between Mastercard and the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc will provide unbanked and underbanked populations in the English Caribbean access to modern financial services, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of the digital economy and providing them with priceless payment experiences.

“I am profoundly satisfied at the successful execution of this Memorandum of Understanding. Cognizant of the immense challenges faced by the region, concerning intra and inter regional payments, primarily as a result of the onslaught of de-risking activity, this is certainly a step in the right direction and exemplifies the tireless efforts of the CAB to identify innovative solutions to the challenges of present”, stated Wendy Delmar, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc. “The CAB acknowledges the increasing costs and complexity related to the transfer of funds among jurisdictions and is pleased to provide an option to the public via our member banks that is cost efficient and underpinned by the adoption of technology”, she added.

This partnership is part of Mastercard’s commitment to offering solutions that respond to specific market needs, benefiting millions of people in the Caribbean and taking a significant step towards achieving financial inclusion in the region.

***

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA) www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo for use with this story is available HERE

PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Mayra Vivacqua, Cluster Lead for Mastercard Caribbean (West & Dutch, Jamaica & East Caribbean, and Puerto Rico and Wendy Delmar, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Association of Banks Inc.

NEW YORK, May 18, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Highgate released today its environmental, social and governance (ESG) report which includes a comprehensive analysis of its successful sustainability performance to-date as well as its strategies for reducing the environmental impact of its hotels. It is believed to be among the first reports of its kind by a major hotel management company.

Highgate has company goals to expand on numerous initiatives highlighted in the report, including increasing its number of carbon neutral hotels, onsite solar systems, biodiversity projects, third-party eco-certified hotels, and electric vehicle (EV) charging station installations. Tracking and reporting carbon, energy, water and waste performance data is another critical program component to monitor and share progress. Comparing 2021 to 2019, Highgate reduced its total GHG emissions by 21.8% and has cut energy use by more than 170,000 megawatt hours (MWh).

“We all share an urgent responsibility to reduce our impact on climate change, and this is especially true for the hospitality industry,” said Highgate CEO Arash Azarbarzin. “Highgate is very proud to be a leader on this front by presenting this analysis that can serve as a roadmap to help drive hospitality management toward a net-zero future without compromising the guest experience.”

“With this report, we endeavored to exhibit our most successful initiatives and to provide visibility into our full carbon footprint, including initial emissions calculations for our entire supply chain. We will use these data to establish achievable goals and measure our progress,” said Marianne Balfe, Vice President of Sustainability of Highgate.

As an example of the ambitious environmental standards and objectives that Highgate is pursuing, the report highlights how the Alohilani Resort became the first hotel in Hawaii to commit to PAS 2060 carbon neutrality certification. As part of this initiative, the hotel partnered with the Hawaii Legacy Reforestation Initiative to reforest more than 1,200 acres of trees, which is the first carbon removal project in the United States to achieve Gold Standard certification.

As a member of the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), Highgate became the first hospitality company to sign CEBA’s Commercial Real Estate Principles, which supports the decarbonization of commercial buildings through energy optimization and renewable energy procurement. In 2021, Highgate made a large-scale investment in Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) that allowed more than 200 hotels in its portfolio to be powered by 100% renewable energy. Highgate is also evaluating onsite renewable energy feasibility and is conducting a comprehensive analysis of onsite solar and battery storage opportunities across its entire portfolio.

Highgate is also increasing the utilization of energy efficient technologies at its hotels, while also increasing the use of renewable energy. As part of its Environmental Brand Standards, Highgate requires hotels to install smart guestroom thermostats, 100% LED lighting, and intelligent kitchen hood fans for properties with large kitchens. As of 2021, approximately 65% of its properties already use high-efficiency lighting.

Other areas of focus in Highgate’s sustainability program include improving water management, preventing food waste, reducing landfill waste and bolstering recycling, single-use plastics elimination, responsible sourcing, supporting biodiversity projects, and implementing green construction and design practices.

“We are deeply focused on sustainable design and construction practices, partners and opportunities,” said Paul McElroy, Executive Vice President of Design and Construction. ”We are actively seeking the right partnerships that will not only help us hold ourselves accountable to minimize our carbon footprint, but can also inspire a “more conscious” ripple effect across the larger design and construction community.”

The full report can be found here.

About Highgate

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $20 billion of assets under management. Highgate has a 30-year track record as an investment manager, operating partner, and developer for REITs, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, high net worth individuals, and other institutional investors. With a particular focus in hospitality real estate, Highgate’s portfolio includes over 500 owned and/or managed hotels comprising over 80,000 rooms across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s capabilities extend to adjacent real estate verticals including multifamily, short-term rentals, and diversified healthcare real estate, as well as investments in real estate-linked securities, technology platforms, and hospitality-related operating businesses. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, and Waikiki. For more information, visit: www.highgate.com.

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and the T.D. Jakes Group, which includes T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, LLC (TDJREV), TDJ Enterprises (TDJE) and T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF), today announced a strategic partnership to drive economic vitality and inclusivity in communities across America. Over the next 10 years, the partnership between these organizations could result in up to $1 billion in capital and financing from Wells Fargo, as well as grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation, with the goal of revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering economic opportunity and creating long-term change in communities most in need. The partnership marks the first of its kind in driving long-term transformational impact over the next decade.

“We are excited to collaborate with the T.D. Jakes Group as they play a key role in the transformation of communities that will have a lasting impact for generations to come,” said Charlie Scharf, CEO of Wells Fargo. “This strategic partnership goes beyond a one-off capital investment and underscores our continued commitment to diverse and inclusive communities. We look forward to seeing the meaningful difference we’ll make together in communities across the country.”

“This alliance with our organization allows us to further our four decades-long work to provide economic justice, eradicate food deserts, construct desirable workplaces and affordable housing, closing the digital divide and ultimately help families leave a rich and lasting legacy for the next generation,” remarked T.D. Jakes, Chairman & CEO of the T.D. Jakes Group. “We recognize the need for CEOs like Charlie Scharf bending the arc and aim of Wells Fargo toward correcting systemic inequalities. We are committed to ensuring additional opportunities actually reach as many areas of need that we can influence. Disruptive partnerships like this create a paradigm shift in how we can collectively bring long overdue transformation, particularly to Black and Brown communities and other marginalized groups around our nation.”

In 2022, TDJREV began purchasing nearly 100 acres of Fort McPherson, the historic former army base situated in enviable proximity to downtown Atlanta with plans to create an innovative community of commercial and residential space. The plans for this land include mixed-income housing with an array of living choices such as single-family homes, townhomes and apartments positioned in well-designed neighborhoods with ample amenities aimed at enhancing the quality of life through healthy food choices, healthcare options and other wraparound services. One of the first prominent projects that Wells Fargo intends to support as a financial partner is the revitalization of the Fort McPherson property, with the vision of aiding TDJREV in developing the area into an inclusive neighborhood equipped with ample green space, a bike path, recreation centers, impacting the Historic Business and Cultural districts at Fort McPherson.

The Wells Fargo Foundation and T.D. Jakes Foundation also expect to provide financial empowerment education and revitalize neighborhoods in underserved low-and moderate-income communities by increasing homeownership and fostering business creation in several cities including Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.

Charlie Scharf will join T.D. Jakes on stage on May 5, during Jakes’ International Leadership Summit in Orlando, Florida for a conversation about this unique partnership and other topics. There is a press registration link for media who want to attend in person or virtually.

Wells Fargo – A Builder of Communities

Wells Fargo has been a leader in the development of and investment in affordable housing across the nation. Since 2016, the Company has held the position of the top Fannie Mae DUS® Affordable Housing Lender. Coming out of the pandemic over the last two years, (2021 and 2022), the Company closed $10 billion in financing through its Community Lending and Investment (CLI) group and $5.7 billion in financing through its Multifamily Capital (MFC) group directed towards affordable housing and community development. In addition, the Company provides LIHTC investments and has a portfolio of approximately 1500 transactions with a book value of $12.2 billion. Further, in March of 2020, the Company made a $50 million investment in Minority Depository Institutions (MDI’s); the pledge included advisory services to help these important local institutions to flourish. As of the end of 2021, all 15 institutions received their investment. Wells Fargo has donated more than $525 million to support housing affordability solutions for individuals and families (2019-2022).

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 41 on Fortune’s 2022 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.

News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo

About The T.D. Jakes Group

The T.D. Jakes Group is a global conglomerate that’s worked for more than four decades at the intersection of mission, ministry and marketplace to solve society’s problems through strategic alliances creating equity and providing solutions for underrepresented and underserved communities. The organization’s four pillars operate globally: T.D. Jakes Enterprises is a civil rights award-winning social impact holding company reaching millions through entrepreneurial training, minority business accelerator initiatives and trailblazing representation in streaming unscripted series, film, music and publishing that has grossed over $500 million worldwide through original entertainment content; T.D. Jakes Foundation is building bridges by unlocking the power of global competition through workforce training that prepares workers to compete in today’s economy through STEM/STEAM education, financial literacy and inclusion, and a laser focus to close the racial wealth gap and support minority women in corporate leadership; T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures is actively developing sustainable communities with a focus on economic development, eradicating food deserts and opening doors for home ownership and wealth building where none existed before.; T.D. Jakes Ministries is a faith-based international organization who’s inspiring content is translated to over 90 languages each week, and whose returning citizen advocacy work has helped over 30,000 individuals create lasting, generational change.

Learn how the T.D. Jakes Group is creating a more equitable society through innovative concepts and disruptive partnerships by visiting tdjakes.org/newsroom.

[Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements]
This release contains forward-looking statements about our future business. Because forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes or events that occur after that date. For information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov.]

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The real time payments (RTP) solution PayExpedite® will complement the current electronic payments ecosystem to allow for the creation of new payment services in Barbados.

ATLANTA and BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – PaySett Corporation, a global provider of payment solutions, and BACHSI announced today the launch of the new RTP platform based on the ISO 20022 messaging standard.

Natalie Garraway, immediate past chairman (2020-2022) and current deputy chair (2023) commented, “We are elated to have this platform launched in Barbados. This system will be integral in our digital journey as a country as it offers speed, convenience, and reliability. We are grateful to PaySett for partnering with us (BACHSI) to provide such a solution that covers all those key areas that our citizens and customers have been eagerly requesting in a banking solution.”

Jesus Garcia, VP of Business Development, added, “Our market proven PayExpedite® solution will integrate seamlessly into the Barbados payments ecosystem to serve the government of Barbados’ plans to reduce (and longer term eliminate) the number of cash and cheque transactions while reducing the costs of these traditional payment methods. Each participating financial institution will have at its disposal a robust real time payments platform capable of supporting new service offerings such as emergency payments, P2P payments, digital wallets, eCommerce, and others. The ease, speed, and security capabilities of the PayExpedite® platform will facilitate the country’s transition to a more digital economy.”

These same financial institutions will be able to process consumer, corporate and government payments in real time through a multitude of banking channels. PaySett’s PayExpedite® product has been deployed across multiple countries offering regional financial institutions the opportunity to manage real time payments across their entire geographical market.

About PaySett Corporation

Atlanta Georgia based PaySett Corporation is a global provider of payment software solutions. PaySett provides products/services to assist global financial entities to effectively manage the way money moves throughout their organizations and for their customers. PaySett’s two decades of experience moving payments through national and international payment networks has allowed for the development of advance payment software for assisting global banks with the capability to enhance their regional and global payment network processing capabilities. Twelve of the top twenty global banks process payments through PaySett software.

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