TheGrio's 100: George Andrews, Providing opportunities for small businesses
theGRIO's 100 - George Andrews is the founder and CEO of what is now the second-largest black-owned bank in Georgia...
George Andrews is the founder and CEO of Capitol City Bank & Trust, a bank with several branches in Atlanta and offices throughout Georgia. Andrews started the bank in 1994, with the goal of providing minority small business owners with access to capital and developing strong ties with the urban community.
WATCH WXIA-TV’s REPORT ON GEORGE ANDREWS HERE:
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Andrews graduated from Morehouse College and went through a bank management training program before deciding to take a big risk and open a community bank. As he explained during an interview with Patch.com), he saw opening a community bank as a means of helping the struggling black-owned small businesses around him.
“In order for a community to be vibrant, to produce an economic model to create jobs, a community bank had to be in the midst,” he told Patch.com.
George Andrews is making history … as the founder of what is now the second-largest black-owned bank in Georgia. Known as the “people’s community banker,” Andrews has used his bank to create economic opportunities for the African American community, even launching student-run banks at area schools to teach children the importance of good money management.
What’s next for George?
Andrews continues to devote his time to helping economically underserved communities in Georgia through his bank.
In his own words …
“We deal with a segment of the community that is riskier in terms of capital. They don’t have a sales base that is diversified,” Andrews told Patch.com. “We take a big risk with them. But if we don’t, nobody else will.”
A little-known fact about black-owned banks …
There are 26 black-owned banks in the U.S., according to a 2011 report from the Federal Reserve.
For more information on Capitol City Bank & Trust, click here…
THE GRIO’S Q & A WITH GEORGE ANDREWS
Q: What’s next in this chapter of your life?
A: I would like to give back to my community in terms of entrepreneurship and small business development.
Q: What’s a fact about you that many people don’t know?
A: I have a burning desire to read a book on the history of our family centered around the Civil War.
Q. What’s your favorite quote?
A: “If I can see far, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: My family.
Q. Who are/were your mentors?
A: Dr. C.T. Vivian.
**Q: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to achieve their
dreams?**
A: I always emphasize to people that you must chase your dream down and never give up. I feel if you really want to achieve and become successful in life developing a forever lasting hunger for what ever it is you want is required. Im just as hungry to succeeded today as I was when I first started riding.
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