Learn about how to prepare for a loan application, what they look for in a loan request, and get tips on how to make your business ready for a bank loan.  

This program is open to ALL women-owned businesses. You do not need to be certified by WBENC to attend Access to Capital events. 

Bridge built by Citi’s mission is to democratize lending by making it easier and faster for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) to access competitive banking products. It is a digital meeting place that efficiently connects SMBs to a diverse group of over 65 lenders by filling out one user-friendly loan request form for loans between $100,000 and $10 million.

This webinar is part of the WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence program.

Speakers

Adriana Eiriz | Speaker

Vice President, Sales and Partnerships |
Accion Opportunity Fund

Adriana is the driving force behind Accion Opportunity Funds (AOF) efforts to reach small business owners by leading the Partnership team responsible for forging deep alliances with existing partners and establishing relationships with new partners to further expand AOF’s small business lending.

For over 25 years, Adriana worked across the globe fighting for the underserved, using cutting-edge technology, interpreting data trends, and growing deep-rooted relationships with clients and partners. Over the course of her career, she has led multiple sales/business development and marketing teams and managed strategic partnerships at companies such as MoneyGram International, Nexxo Financial Corp., Vivar Advertising, LLC (part of Quigley-Simpson), and Lexicon Marketing. 

Mary Ellen Bianco | Speaker

Senior Vice President and the New York Market Manager | Flushing Bank 

Mary Ellen Bianco is a Senior Vice President and the New York Market Manager for Flushing Bank.  Mary Ellen has over 20 years of lending experience and has an extensive background in financing companies in the New York Metropolitan area. 

Prior to joining Flushing Bank, Mary Ellen worked at other financial institutions including Bank Leumi, GMAC and Bank of America.  Mary Ellen has her BBA and MBA from Iona College and her JD From Pace University School of Law.  Mary Ellen has been involved with the Needlers Foundation for over 5 years and currently sits on the Board.

Rohit Mathur | Moderator

Co-founder, Director | Bridge built by Citi 

Rohit is the Head of Bridge built by Citi. He led the ideation, prototyping and creation of the platform. He has worked closely with banks and SMEs to understand their pain points and create solutions through the Bridge platform. Bridge (www.bridgebuiltbyciti.com) has grown from a few states and key banks in 2021 to national coverage with over 65 banks in 2023. He is passionate about working with regional, local and community banks to improve access to capital for underserved communities.

Prior to Bridge, Rohit was a Senior Transactor in the Loan Syndications team managing the Central Mid-Corporate market. Rohit started his career at Citi by helping to set up the SME Healthcare Finance team. Rohit has an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington DC and prior to graduate school was a management consultant with Ernst and Young.

Bridge built by Citi Platform

Bridge built by Citi works with a set of regional banks and CDFIs to evaluate your loan needs. Lenders on Bridge are currently focused on US-based businesses with at least $100k in Annual Revenue.

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