Jun 8, 2023
Warner, Crapo, Adeyemo Applaud $1 Billion in Deposit Commitments for Minority & Community Lenders
Optus Banks is recognized in recent press release as continuing to grow and make impact!
Mar 15, 2023
Yahoo!News: Bank collapse hits home for Black-owned banks as republicans blame ‘woke’ culture.
Optus Bank CEO and President Dominik Mjartan shares insight with Yahoo!News.
Mar 1, 2023
The history of South Carolina’s First Black Owned Bank.
Optus Bank Executive Vice President Benita Lefft sits down with WIS Awareness Host, Billie Jean Shaw to discuss the legacy, mission and the future of South Carolina’s first and only Black owned bank.
Feb 1, 2023
Optus Bank partners with Citi and Walmart to help suppliers find capital and financing!
Walmart and Citi Introduce the Bridge built by Citi® platform to Walmart Suppliers. This platform Will Help Improve Access to Capital for Walmart’s U.S. Supplier Base through Network of over 70 lenders, Including 20+ Diverse Financial Institutions, Optus Bank being one them!
Sep 1, 2022
Mother daughter duo and Optus Bank customer, launch hair care product line!
It all started with an online rant. Gabby Goodwins mom, Rozalynn, explains how she and her then 7 year old daughter grew their beauty business with the help of their community bank, Optus Bank.
May 24, 2022
After George Floyd’s murder, Wall Street promised billions of dollars to help Black Americans. 2 years later, here’s where that money went and how it’s being used.
As Dominik Mjartan approached JPMorgan's towering global headquarters on New York City's Park Avenue on a Friday afternoon in September, he couldn't help feeling skeptical. Mjartan, the CEO of Optus Bank, a South Carolina lender with $350 million in assets, was there to meet Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan. The meeting was no pairing of equals. JPMorgan, a global finance giant, is multiples larger with some $4 trillion in assets through March.
Dec 1, 2021
What’s next for SC’s Black-owned bank after $20M in outside investment
COLUMBIA — Once on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s list of troubled institutions, South Carolina’s only Black-owned bank has since seen a fortune change, with its assets tripling over 15 months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the federal agency’s latest data.
Nov 5, 2021
Black Banks Need More Money to Stay Alive After Getting Hefty Cash-Infusions From Nation’s Largest Banks
Over a year after George Floyd’s murder and the economic crush from COVID-19, Black-owned banks report capital injections have allowed them to boost lending, beef-up staffing, and back communities amid pandemic-era unpredictability. Yet, even with the cash infusions, Black bankers contend that they need more investment to lessen racial inequality in financial services and fortify their longevity.
Oct 5, 2021
Regions Backs South Carolina Bank to Support Minority Lending
Regions Financial Corp. is making a $2 million equity investment in Optus Bank to help the Columbia, South Carolina, company offer loans and other financial services to minority-owned businesses and under-served communities. The investment, being made through Regions Community Development Corp., will help the community bank work with customers who have a “desire for relationship banking,” Optus Chief Executive Officer Dominik Mjartan said in an interview Tuesday. During the pandemic, demand among clients to work with mission-driven banks has allowed Optus to triple its assets, more than 90% of which are invested in communities of color, he said.
Sep 29, 2021
Optus Bank Launches Voice-Enabled Banking
COLUMBIA, SC & LITTLE ROCK, AR – September 29, 2021 – Optus Bank, a $300 million asset-size minority depository institution (MDI) and community development financial institution (CDFI), announced today that it is now offering voice banking through Amazon Alexa. In partnership with Smiley Technologies, Inc., a developer, and provider of secure, innovative core banking solutions for community banks, this feature will allow Optus Bank customers to bank hands-free through Amazon Alexa, the world’s largest virtual assistant.