It’s that time of year in Colorado when the landscape transforms: the sun sets before we leave the office, the plains takes on a golden hue, and snow drapes the mountains. Here at Solera National Bank, we are at the height of our transformation, one that started earlier this year. After five years of business, our community efforts have coalesced and we are giving back more than ever.

We donated an unprecedented $67,000 to 26 organizations at 33 different events. And, we launched a major, ongoing Community Spirit Program. As an inaugural step, we presented the first of what we hope will become an annual Community Spirit Facebook Contest. Through the campaign, we helped raise awareness for more than a dozen inspiring area nonprofits by promoting their contest video entries on all our social media platforms, in our E-newsletter, and via E-blasts. Plus, we awarded $2,000 to the winning nonprofit, The Shiloh House, and did extra promotion for that organization and the six finalists at our 5th Anniversary Celebration.

As the second step of our campaign, which started this fall and will be ongoing, we are engaging area schools with our Financial Literacy Program. We will teach your children the basics of financial literacy so that they get a head start on balancing their checkbooks and saving for the future (see the article and thank you notes from some of the kids on our blog).

Why did we do all this? Because we want to support our community. We recognize that without you—our shareholders, loyal customers, and committed employees—we wouldn’t exist. Thanks to you, we grew and thrived during the recession, and made it to our fifth year in business. And thanks to you we will continue to grow and thrive over the next five years.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays from all of us at Solera National Bank!

Sincerely,

Doug Crichfield, CEO/President Solera National Bank

Last month, our bilingual team kicked off the next part of our continued Community Spirit campaign by taking financial literacy lessons to fifth-graders in the Denver-area to help them prepare for prosperous financial futures. Our goal is to empower Denver youth to make wise money moves. By helping kids develop financial skills, they’ll be more equipped when they want to get a job and save for expenses like cars and college. Do you want us to bring this program to you? Give us a call at (303) 209-8600.

David Roberts views the world with entrepreneur-colored glasses. “I like seeing opportunities and creating things that the world needs,” he says. Plus, the world of small and emerging growth businesses is full of exciting opportunities. So after studying pre-law, the Brown University alum shifted direction and moved one state north to pursue his MBA at Harvard.