Detroit, July 20, 2019 – Comerica Bank, the longest-serving bank in Michigan for 170 years, and the NAACP will launch a new financial education program beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7, providing Detroit residents with empowerment sessions focused on money management, checking and savings, budgeting, investing and credit management.

Comerica and the Detroit Branch NAACP will present the first segment of the financial education empowerment series to the NAACP Youth Council during workshops on Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2 at the local NAACP headquarters in Detroit (8220 Second Avenue). In addition to these initial sessions, the Comerica-NAACP financial education partnership will expand to reach adults and small businesses in association with SER Metro-Detroit later this year.

“We are delighted that the NAACP has chosen Detroit for its national convention, which is another strong indication of Detroit’s ongoing revival,” said Michael T. Ritchie, Comerica Bank Michigan Market President. “However, at the same time, many are still struggling. We believe in the inherent dignity of every person and want to see all people have an opportunity to thrive.

“We are pleased to present this new financial education partnership with the NAACP. This partnership will engage a broad range of residents from our youth to small businesses and hopefully help many more people in our community to flourish.”

The Detroit Branch NAACP dates back to its founding in 1912 and has remained the largest Branch of the NAACP since its inception. Among the branch’s key development areas includes education and economic sustainability.

“We look forward to partnering with Comerica Bank and providing sound money and financial advice to our Detroit NAACP Youth Council,” said Kamilia Landrum, Detroit Branch NAACP Executive Director. “We believe that equipping our young people at an early age with correct financial principles will benefit them now and in the future.”

COMERICA FINANCIAL EDUCATION BRIGADE

Financial education is one of Comerica’s giving priorities, and through the bank’s Financial Education Brigade, colleagues and employee volunteers dedicate their time improving the community through financial empowerment.

Since 2006, Comerica has provided more than $16 million dollars in support of financial education programs across the country, including in Michigan. Comerica conducted more than 800 sponsored financial education events last year and reached nearly 43,000 individuals.

Comerica helps address a critical need by teaching sound financial principles to wide range of audiences from pre-K to senior citizens, as well as small businesses. Workshops occur at a variety of venues, including schools, community centers and places of worship.

“Financial education plays a significant role in improving our communities,” said Mike Cheatham, Comerica Bank Vice President of Michigan Corporate Contributions and SE Michigan Community Reinvestment Manager. “Financial empowerment brings people into the financial mainstream and helps individuals and businesses achieve financial stability.”

Through the first six months of 2019, Comerica has held nearly 60 different financial education programs in Detroit and throughout Michigan, while serving over 3,500 individuals. In metro Detroit, Comerica has partnered with Junior Achievement, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (Show Me the Money Days), K & S Education Solutions (F.E.E.S. Summit), Federal Reserve Bank (Money Smart Week) and FDIC.

JUANITA JACKSON MITCHELL DINNER ROYAL GALA

Comerica Bank is also partnering with the NAACP to support the convention’s Juanita Jackson Mitchell Dinner Royal Gala on Tuesday, July 23. The annual gala celebrates the hard work, dedication and contributions of hard-fought student activism by the NAACP’s next generation of leaders.

Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served Michigan longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back 170 years to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and has more than 4,800 employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively participating in Detroit’s downtown revitalization. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica, Twitter: @ComericaBank and Instagram: @comerica_bank.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. For more information about the NAACP’s work and six “Game Changer” issue, visit www.naacp.org.The Detroit Branch NAACP is the organization’s largest branch. For more information on the Detroit Branch NAACP please call 313.871.2087 or visit http://detroitnaacp.org/.

The NAACP Convention brings together over 10,000 activists, organizers, and leaders to set policies priorities for the coming year. Highlights will include a CEO Roundtable, a legislative session, LGBTQ workshop, the awarding of the prestigious Spingarn Medal to Ambassador to Patrick Gaspard, and the signature NAACP Experience retail expo and diversity career fair. More information about the 110th Annual NAACP National Convention, including a detailed schedule of events, may be found by visiting naacpconvention.org.

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Comerica Media Contact
Matt Barnhart
(313) 222-3694
mpbarnhart@comerica.com