Liberty Bank Receives A Major Investment From JPMorgan Chase

(New Orleans, LA) - As part of the firm's recently announced commitment to advancing racial equity, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has invested $10 million in Liberty Bank, which will strengthen the independent, Black-owned bank, increase local lending and promote market expansion.

"This infusion of capital will allow us to scale up our efforts to support small businesses, increase our mortgage lending and help refinance predatory lending products, which will result in significant cash flow enhancements for our most challenged communities," said Liberty Bank President and CEO Alden J. McDonald Jr. "We appreciate the confidence JPMorgan Chase has placed in our ability to understand our customer base and offer financial services that build wealth in our communities."

Based in New Orleans, Liberty Bank has for nearly 50 years successfully and profitably provided banking services to underserved communities to help them reach their financial needs and goals. Today Liberty serves customers throughout America and has branch locations in nine states. Liberty is one of the largest African American owned banks in the country.

The announcement today is part of a broader initiative by JPMorgan Chase to strengthen the foundations of vital Minority Deposit Institutions (MDIs) and Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) in cities across the nation. These new initiatives are focused on supporting diverse-led financial institutions by providing additional capital, connections to institutional investors, specialty support for Black-led commercial projects, and mentorship and training opportunities.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the racial inequalities in the U.S., which puts a strain on families' economic mobility and impedes the continued growth of our economy," said Brian Lamb, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at JPMorgan Chase. "We know these crucial institutions create lasting change for Black and Latinx families and we hope our support will help uplift the people and businesses that are the backbone of our local economies."

In addition to the equity investment, Liberty Bank will gain access to the firm's expertise, solutions, and network. Today's initiative also includes:

• Access to J.P. Morgan Asset Management's money market funds via a new Empower share class allowing institutional investors to invest with MDIs and CDFIs.
• A commitment to donate 12.5% of revenue for management of Empower share class assets to organizations supporting community development. The annual donation will be made for the life of the Empower share class to the Empower and Community Development Fund, a Donor-Advised Fund administered by the Chicago Community Trust that is committed to supporting community development to expand opportunities within underserved communities.
• The expansion of mentoring and training support for diverse-led financial institutions.

"For more than 30 years, JPMorgan Chase and our predecessor banks in New Orleans have enjoyed working closely with Liberty Bank. Our organizations share many qualities, including a commitment to make our communities better, more equitable places for all," said Greg Rattler, Executive Director and a Market Leader for JPMorgan Chase in New Orleans. "We look forward to forging an even deeper relationship that will benefit communities around the country. This is a business investment in a strong, successful bank, and we could not be more proud."

For more information and greater detail about today's announcement, go to: link to national release: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/news-stories/jpmc-announces-initiatives-to-support-minority-owned-and-diverse-led-financial-institutions

Liberty and JPMorgan Chase forged a close relationship under the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bank Mentor Protégé Program. The program provides a platform for large banks to help small banks further address the banking needs of their respective communities. This past summer, Chase - through the Bank Mentor Protégé Program and in collaboration with its Advancing Black Pathways Summer Apprenticeship program - positioned 75 college students to partner with Liberty executives to identify new areas for potential growth and expansion.

In 2019, Liberty and JPMorgan Chase also worked together with other partners to help expand the local Mobilization Fund. The $5 million BuildNOLA Mobilization Fund was co-created by New Corp CDFI and the City of New Orleans, with support from The Kresge Foundation and the Greater New Orleans Foundation. The effort provides critical access to capital for entrepreneurs of color and women seeking to participate in public infrastructure projects, creating more jobs and grow the New Orleans economy.

As communities recover from the COVID pandemic, JPMorgan Chase continues to create greater economic opportunity in cities around the world through programs like AdvancingCities, a $500 million investment in solutions to spur economic growth in the world's cities. New Orleans and Baton Rouge were each awarded $5 million Advancing Cities grants in 2020.

Press releases:

• https://www.nolaba.org/new-orleans-gets-5m-jpmorgan-grant-to-boost-environmental-jobs-and-businesses/
• https://buildbatonrouge.org/advancingcitiesbr/

For more information visit www.jpmorganchase.com/impact/path-forward.

For media inquiries for Liberty Bank and Trust, please contact Bill Rouselle, President of Bright Moments, LLC via phone at (504) 638-8244 or email at brightmome@aol.com.