Popular Bank and Latin Business Today announce an initiative to empower small business entrepreneurs

SOURCE Latin Business Today, LLC

NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Popular Bank, a subsidiary of Popular, Inc. (Nasdaq: BPOP), and national cross-platform small business advisor Latin Business Today, LLC (“Latin Biz Today”), announced the development of an educational initiative to address the unique and urgent challenges faced by small Latino businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative was launched in the summer of 2020 and seeks to reach millions of small business owners and Latino entrepreneurs nationwide.

As part of this initiative, Manuel Chinea, Chief Operating Officer of Popular Bank, and Eli Mendoza, a member of Latin Biz Today’s advisory board and partner and chief operating officer of Siris Capital, will team up to organize Driving Business Success through the Pandemic, a nine-part series of virtual debates that seeks to discuss the evolutionary challenges and opportunities faced by small businesses amid this disruption economical and operational.

Leveraging their unique industry experience and knowledge, both opinion leaders will work together to discuss the current landscape of the economy and small businesses and empower small business owners to successfully conduct the the right and ongoing challenges and opportunities. The topics will include the survival stages of the small business programme, as well as the approach of medium- and long-term objectives. The previous discussion included topics such as emergency financing and liquidity, and the agility of small businesses to successfully manage the the way of disruption. Upcoming discussions will continue to closely follow the real-time experience of small business owners as they resume operations and plan for a slow return to normal following the successful distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Latino-owned companies had been growing at an accelerated rate before the pandemic. We want to do everything we can to provide guidance and resources, especially during this difficult time, so that they can continue to build their success,” Chinea said. “It is essential to adopt and develop sustainable business practices that can prepare companies to adapt quickly to unforeseen changes in the environment. The initiative does just that, focusing on key areas such as financing and strategic planning, among others.”

The introduction of Driving Business Success through the Pandemic comes at a critical time for small businesses and micro-enterprises in the United States. According to a recent survey by Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, 86% of Latino small business owners reported a significant negative impact on their businesses due to the pandemic. Nearly two-thirds said they will not be able to continue operating beyond six months if current conditions continue. In addition, many small business owners are now exploring and looking for new financial aid tools as reopening guidelines continue to change.

In addition to a series of virtual discussions, Driving Business Success Through the Pandemic will include a number of educational articles.

About Popular Bank: Popular Bank is the continental subsidiary of Popular, Inc. (Nasdaq: BPOP), which is among the top 50 U.S. banks by assets. For more information, visit PopularBank.com or call 1-800-377-0800. Learn more about Popular Bank’s commitment to community service at PopularBank.com/About-us/.

About Latin Business Today: Latin Biz Today is a national cross-platform online publication dedicated to facilitating the business success and performance of Latinos in companies of all sizes to improve work, lifestyle and culture. Visit: Latin Biz Today, Latin Biz Today Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.