Branch employees are rallying around local partners amid business disruption caused by the pandemic
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Bank employees have been teaming up with small businesses to provide meals for health care workers and other first responders.
With banking having been defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an essential service to the country, many U.S. Bank employees report to work every day in branches – where the company has adopted CDC guidelines for workplace safety, such as by installing plexiglass shields and shifting to drive-ups.
As stay home orders came into place and local restaurants moved to take-out only, the bank’s Vegas team chose to support them by ordering lunch for branch staff. Word spread and it quickly became a nationwide effort across U.S. Bank, dubbed #SupportLocal, and expanded to include donating meals for first responders, where possible.
“We wanted to show our gratitude to the front-line workers and first responders who are doing so much for our communities,” said Morris Jackson II, Senior Vice President for Consumer & Business Banking in U.S. Bank’s Las Vegas market. “And in times of crisis, it is more important than ever for our small business customers to know we support them.”
Across Southern Nevada, the team purchased nearly 2,000 meals for supermarket employees, breakfast for more than 250 firefighters as well as lunches for nearly 800 police officers and more than 900 servicemembers at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases. The team also delivered treats to emergency department staff at hospitals across the valley, and partnered with the City of North Las Vegas to feed the doctors and nurses at North Vista Hospital.
“We are looking out for the medical professionals who are risking their own lives for the health and welfare of our residents,” said North Las Vegas Councilman Isaac Barron. ““I’m happy to have a fantastic partner like U.S. Bank to provide this small, yet meaningful measure of appreciation for our front line workers.”
U.S. Bank ordered from local restaurants including Tony’s Mexican Grill, the Cracked Egg, Suha Bites, Chef Fleming’s Bakery Shop, Capriotti’s, Sunset Pizzeria, Napoli Pizzeria and Bambini Pizzeria as well as locally owned franchises of Jimmy John’s and Port of Subs.
The bank has also supported nonprofits across the country during this pandemic, including U.S. Bank’s $50,000 grant to Nevada’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, a public-private partnership focused on the state’s response, relief and recovery efforts. The grant is part of U.S. Bank’s expedited annual $1 million Market Impact Fund program for 30 local nonprofits across the country that are working to support small businesses, maintain safe housing and ensure accessibility to critical human services by the communities’ most economically vulnerable populations. The bank also established an internal virtual volunteer network to help employees connect their skills to community needs.
“Our entire team has rallied around each other, our customers and our communities,” Jackson said. “We stand together, focused on keeping people healthy and safe – personally, professionally and financially.”
In addition to these #SupportLocal efforts, U.S. Bank has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by instituting a premium pay program for front-line employees, modifying personal and small business products for customers, expediting community giving programs, and other changes. Additional information about its response is available at usbank.com/covid-19 and usbank.com/newsroom.
U.S. Bank is an Equal Housing Lender, and member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
