By A.J. Dugger III
Nashville, TN – Citizens Bank is sharing the Christmas spirit by making the holiday extra special for a deserving family. “We’re adopting a family for Christmas,” said Hope Brandon, business development banker. “We choose a family that has a wish list and we get as much as we can for their wish list.”
The tradition began last year when one of the bank’s customers told them about the needs of a specific family that was struggling and wouldn’t have a good Christmas. They received a wish list from the family and got everything on it that they could. The bank then held a Christmas party and invited the family.
“It was fun when they came to the Christmas party,” said Brandon. “The kids were really excited to open their gifts.” Watching the smiles and excitement of the children inspired the bank’s staff to do it again. “That’s when we decided it was something we were going to do annually,” said Brandon.
The adopted family this year was recommended by the pastor of one of the churches partnering with Citizens bank. “We have partnerships with over 200 churches,” said Brandon. “This particular family attends New Covenant Christian Church. It’s a single mother with three children; two boys and a girl.”
People in the community are observing the bank’s good deed. In fact, it is generating more customers for them.“They are really doing God’s will,” said Josephine Daniels, who sometimes attends New Covenant. “This is what the Holiday Season is all about. How many other banks uplift families in need?” Daniels is currently banking at Bank of America but says she and her husband have plans to switch over to Citizens Bank early next year.
“There’s so much negativity in this world,” added Daniels’ husband, Antwan. “People are not too quick to lend a helping hand to their fellow-man. Not these days. My wife Josephine and I like to support those who support others. Dr. Deborah Cole (president of Citizens Bank) and everyone at Citizens Bank are following Christ’s example. This is the reason for the season.”