Central Bank continues long tradition of offering services and products to meet the financial needs of Northeast customers

Elizabeth Orosco
Northeast News

Central Bank of Kansas City has been an icon in the Northeast community for almost 70 years. While the financial institution has branched out over the decades, it remains committed to serving the community where its roots are planted. To that end, Central Bank continuously introduces new programs.

The bank has continually received large allocations in new market tax credits. Essentially, these credits can be converted into improvement projects in lower income areas, such as the Northeast. Central Bank of Kansas City is making the area a priority.

“Kansas City is our home base and that is where we would like to promote those projects,” said Bill Dana, President and CEO of Central Bank of Kansas City. “We are a CDFI, which is a Community Development Financial Institution. We are certified by the U.S. Treasury, and have been, continually, since 1998. At the heart of the new market tax credit program, it is an economic development tool. Whether it is the building of a community facility or the creation of new jobs, it will have an impact.”

That certification comes with a responsibility to deploy assets into lower to moderate income communities – a role that Central Bank of Kansas City has gladly fulfilled for more than twenty years.

One current project the bank has been involved with is the Pendleton ArtsBlock – a four story building under construction that is part of the CHOICE Neighborhood Revitalization Effort. The building is set to include three floors of mixed-income housing; the ground floor will host an art gallery.

Aside from project funding, the bank has also delivered community services in the form of free financial education tools and workshops.

The bank will be hosting Money Smart KC sessions in 2019.

A Shark Tank Competition will be held Thursday, April 4 as part of the Power of You Youth Conference. Seventeen teams are competing from four area high schools including Lincoln College Prep, Washington High School, Southeast High School and Raytown South. In the contest, teams will receive a problem on the day of the competition and will create a service or product to solve that problem. Each team will create a business plan and present to the judges. First-place winners will receive $1,000 and second place winners $500. This event will be led by UMKC Office of Financial Literacy and sponsored by Central Bank of Kansas City.

A Family Game Night will be held Tuesday, April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Family and Child Development Center, located at 2008 E. 12th Street in Kansas City. This free event is open for the entire family. Dinner will be served at no cost to participants and prizes will be distributed.

The bank will also be part of a series at the Don Bosco Senior Center. A session on How to Protect Yourself from ID Theft will be held Tuesday, April 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., and a Money Management session will be held Tuesday, April 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

The bank will also be participating in a Teach Children to Save event. Central Bannk will visit area elementary classrooms to teach savings lessons to students. The bank will visit approximately six to eight classrooms at the end of April, including Scuola Vita Nuova and Garfield Elementary.

On Saturday, April 13, the bank will host a class during the Money Smart Day at the Kansas City Central Library. The free class will take place from 12 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. and is aptly named the “Best New Money Apps for 2019.” It is focused on teaching attendees about apps for their smartphones that will help them streamline their money management through saving, investing, budgeting, and more.