WesBanco Bank, Inc.
Wheeling, WV

WesBanco Bank has served the communities and neighborhoods of the Wheeling region for more than 130 years. In recent years, WesBanco has assumed a strong role in using FHLBank community investment programs to do this good work. WesBanco has sponsored a number of Affordable Housing Program projects, including eleven affordable for-sale homes built in Fairmont and 47 apartments for low-income families in Wheeling. Taken together, WesBanco distributed more than half a million dollars in AHP grants last year alone.

Additionally, WesBanco used the Banking On Business program to enable financing of ten small businesses throughout the service area. One loan helped an orthodontist purchase a practice. Another enabled the acquisition and renovation of a day care center. Yet another was used to expand an auto body repair business. Nearly $700,000 in BOB funds leveraged $3 million more in commercial loans for hardworking small-business owners.

WesBanco also used more than $2 million in Community Lending Program loans to finance two separate projects that will build 78 units of affordable rental housing. Several families took advantage of the Home Buyer Equity Fund to realize their dream of homeownership.

Nazareth National Bank
Nazareth, PA

For more than 106 years, Nazareth National Bank has enriched the communities and neighborhoods it serves. Nazareth National Bank reinvests its deposits almost exclusively within the local community, funding many local construction projects and residential mortgages. In 2002, Nazareth National Bank received the highest possible CRA rating from its primary regulator, a rating only a small fraction of banks receive.

Over the past year, Nazareth National Bank has used a number of FHLBank community investment programs to help it do this good work. It employed a unique combination of funding from the Affordable Housing and Community Lending programs to help finance the rehabilitation of an old factory building in Bethlehem, converting it into 54 apartments for senior citizens. FHLBank funds were used to lock in a fixed-rate loan, as well as to pay for construction costs.

Nazareth National Bank also used the Community Lending Program in 2002 to help finance a medical office building with a large percentage of Medicare patients, as well as to provide a mortgage loan for a 40-unit senior housing project in the Lehigh Valley.

Last year, Nazareth National Bank employees performed more than 1,600 hours of community service on bank time and volunteered more than 10,000 hours of their personal time to help 184 organizations in the local area. Nazareth National Bank's eight-member board of directors donated nearly 2,000 more hours to various organizations. It also contributed financial assistance to more than 150 organizations in 2002 alone.

In honor of this award to Nazareth National Bank, the FHLBank of Pittsburgh presented a check for $1,000 to Valley Housing Development Corporation of Emmaus, PA.

Presented at the 2003 Regional Conference in Lititz, PA
June 23, 2003

Waypoint Bank
Harrisburg, PA

Although its name is new, its long history of community service is not. In 2000, Harris Savings Bank and York Federal Savings and Loan merged to form Waypoint Bank. For more than 115 years now, these institutions have been trusted community leaders in central Pennsylvania, and Waypoint is carrying forward that tradition.

Waypoint's service extends far into the local community. It has joined with a number of local housing groups to participate in a Section 8 voucher program. Partnerships with other agencies allow Waypoint to offer financial incentives for opening and maintaining family savings accounts. In 2002, Waypoint originated nearly $5 million in community investment grants and loans to help nonprofit organizations with affordable housing and economic development initiatives.

Waypoint Bank is a strong advocate of community investment through the FHLBank's programs, calling on them to help fund 22 projects over the past ten years. In 2002, Waypoint used the Affordable Housing Program to fund the rehabilitation of a former shoe factory into 70 apartments for low-income families. Also with AHP dollars, Waypoint funded the renovation of a 200-unit apartment building for seniors, as well as the construction of new homes for seven first-time homebuyers. Waypoint has also been an active user of the Home Buyer Equity Fund. In 2002, it closed on 50 loans for HBEF participants, who received grants toward down payments and closing costs.

As a community-based bank, Waypoint insists on being a compassionate corporate citizen, contributing both time and money to worthy local causes. This year alone, Waypoint will contribute more than $1 million to a wide range of local nonprofits. In addition, officers of Waypoint Bank volunteer time to more than 250 organizations, many in leadership positions or as board directors.

In honor of this award to Waypoint Bank, the FHLBank of Pittsburgh presented a check for $1,000 to the Housing Initiatives Corporation of York, PA.

 

Presented at the 2003 Regional Conference in Philadelphia, PA
June 30, 2003

Beneficial Savings Bank
Philadelphia, PA

For more than 150 years, Beneficial Savings Bank has supported communities and neighborhoods in center-city Philadelphia. Beneficial is a strong advocate of community investment through the FHLBank's community investment programs, recently securing more than $700,000 in funding from the FHLBank's Affordable Housing Program. These funds helped to rebuild transitional housing for homeless women and their children and provided 63 apartments to low-income seniors.

In the past two years, Beneficial's mortgage department has distributed $780,000 in Home Buyer Equity Fund grants, enabling nearly 200 low-income families to realize their dream of homeownership. Beneficial also provides financial support approaching $300,000 per year to community organizations, as well as investing in low-income housing bonds and tax credits.

Beneficial's community service extends to its employees, who help with fundraisers for charitable groups and participate in reading programs for children. Employees have also organized a book drive for local schools and worked on construction of a Habitat home. They currently help teach young people how to start savings accounts and train seniors how to better manage their finances.

The Council's Award is chosen on behalf of the FHLBank's Affordable Housing Advisory Council. It goes to an individual who demonstrates a lifelong commitment to affordable housing and whose career leadership has achieved important and lasting results in the community. Recipients of the Council's Award are true leaders in affordable housing and community investment.

Presented at the 2003 Regional Conference in Pittsburgh, PA
June 2, 2003


Donald C. Meyers
Division Vice President, Senior Regional Executive
Northwest Savings Bank
Erie, PA

With 43 years in banking, Don Meyers has a long list of community investment and community service credentials. He has sponsored numerous housing and development projects, typically using Affordable Housing Program funds in the process. He has put together financing for housing for mentally disabled adults and for the homeless, apartments for seniors, and homes for low-income homebuyers. One project, Villa Maria Housing, renovated a former convent and school into 78 apartments for low-income families.

Don's community work doesn't end at the office door. He has served as a board member, officer or trustee on dozens of community, government and civic organizations. He is a commissioner on the Erie Housing Authority. Don is also a member and past chairman of the Planning Commission for the City of Erie, as well as a member and past president of the Economic Development Corporation of Erie County. He has worked on several fund drives to help children and families in need.

Don's efforts have made communities and neighborhoods in the Erie region better places to live and work.

Presented at the 2003 Regional Conference in Hazleton, PA
June 16, 2003

Thomas C. Ragland
Vice President
SunBank
Lewisburg, PA