Popular Bank Chief Operating Officer Manuel Chinea reflects on Popular today.

Popular celebrated turning 128 years old on October 5, 2021. While so much has changed, what remains the same is that we are more committed than ever to providing exceptional service to our customers and communities. 

We, our customers and communities have faced our fair share of uncertainty over the last 12 months, and as a team, Popular has demonstrated that what defines us to our core is that we never lose sight of why we are here. We are here to be a lifeline to our customers and communities.

The pandemic, undoubtedly, has heightened the importance of financial viability and security for individuals and businesses alike. Our ability to meet those needs at a critical time is of paramount importance.

Reaffirming our promise today and tomorrow.

We continue to work alongside our retail and business customers to help them enhance their resilience and prosperity while finding ways to provide exceptional service. Popular proudly processed nearly 50,000 PPP loans, originating $2.1 billion in both rounds of the program, assisting clients in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and United States.

We also realized other milestones this past year including Popular Bank’s East 116th Street branch being designated a Banking Development District (BDD) branch. Popular Bank is further supporting engagement and reinvestment initiatives throughout the East Harlem community in Upper Manhattan.  We are also very proud of the fact that this is our fourth BDD-designated branch in NY, showing our commitment to being an agent of progress in these communities.

Popular has also formalized its priorities with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and remains committed to establishing specific targets, tracking progress, and communicating results regularly.

At Popular, we have always been committed to helping our customers realize their dreams through access to a wide range of financial services. We have been there for our customers through thick and thin, reaffirming our promise to honor the trust that our customers have placed in us. We are thankful for the trust they have given to us for 128 years.