In the critical minutes, hours and days that followed the catastrophic failure of New Orleans’ vital levee systems in 2005, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), along with the General Service Administration’s Office of Emergency Management, faced the herculean task of locating, procuring and delivering 800 emergency response vehicles to the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security, as quickly as possible. 

Call after call to some of the largest GSA-certified leasing companies in the country yielded disappointing results; vehicles could be secured within weeks - not within days. With lives hanging in the balance, FEMA contacted The Bancorp. Our leasing specialists began an outreach to our unparalleled network of industry resources, methodically drawing upon multiple vehicle access points. Within days, The Bancorp team was not only able to locate the needed inventory; as one of the few bank- owned leasing companies in the nation, we were also able to process the vehicles at a record pace. In just eight days, The Bancorp’s Leasing and Fleet Management team did what no other leasing company in the nation could do: successfully deliver 800 emergency response vehicles to FEMA and the citizens of New Orleans.

Sparked by consumer angst over delayed money transfers, overdraft fees, and the cumbersome ways traditional banks provided consumers with access to their account information, a small team of Portland-based category disruptors set out to create a simpler, more streamlined banking experience. Simple Bank – then just a blip on industry radar – was born.

http://bankinnovation.net/2014/02/heres-the-email-that-started-simple/

Led by Josh Reich and Shamir Karkal (and fueled by the backing of early-in customer Matt Harris, managing director of Bain Capital Ventures), the team began building a lean organization with a “no branches” approach and an obsession with providing the best possible user experience to its customers. The biggest differentiator: its social brand appeal, which would enable Simple Bank to have a more authentic relationship with its customers. The only missing link to success was a financial institution willing to stand behind its beautifully engineered, user-friendly interfaces and bring them to life in a heavily regulated environment. The team found partnership in The Bancorp, which provided the back-end banking services Simple needed in those critical launch and infancy years. Over time, Simple captured the loyalty of more than 150,000 “by invitation only” consumers (and the eyes of industry watchers, including BBVA, which ultimately bought Simple in early 2014 for $117 million).

Bridgestone, one of the world's largest tire and rubber companies, manufactures and distributes more than 25 million tires throughout Europe each year. In tandem with CardWise and The Bancorp, the company launched its first Bridgestone Prepaid MasterCard, a uniquely branded prepaid card that enables Bridgestone to distribute earned cash back purchase rewards (a percentage of purchase) to customers via a physical prepaid MasterCard. In addition to the operational efficiency of a prepaid card payment tool, Bridgestone representatives were equally focused on the program’s dual ability to deliver customer incentive payments while simultaneously driving continued brand loyalty. Once loaded and received, customers freely enjoy earned cash back rewards wherever MasterCard is accepted, both at retail and online. As an added benefit (with brand reinforcement), customers are able to register and continue loading their Bridgestone Prepaid MasterCard. Ongoing incentives are offered to encourage reloads and continued usage.

The Bridgestone Prepaid MasterCard is currently available in France, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Germany, and Belgium. The program has been recognized as a Top Motivator in the PayBefore Awards Europe.

The Walgreens Balance Rewards program is recognized as one of the most successful retail consumer loyalty programs of recent years. Supported and promoted by more than 240,000 Walgreens team members nationwide, the program (now available across both the Walgreens and Duane Reade retail brands) enjoys more than 85 million active members. The audience - highly loyal and immense in buying power - was ready and eager to benefit from an integrated GPR (General Purpose Reloadable) prepaid card. And the team at Galileo, an acknowledged industry leader in reloadable prepaid card programs, was determined to make it happen.

The new Balance Financial Prepaid MasterCard, a team effort with Walgreens, Galileo, The Bancorp, FIS and MasterCard, can be used everywhere Debit MasterCard is accepted to shop or pay bills, even online. This new card also takes the ability to earn rewards points beyond the retail environment and into day-to-day interactions: direct deposits and reloads that earn the cardholder Balance Rewards points. ATM withdrawals using the new prepaid card are fee-free at virtually all Walgreens and Duane Reade locations; cardholders can also manage all of their transactions in store at the Walgreens kiosk, on the website or on the mobile app. 

In an effort to help advisors add long-term value to their firms and leverage succession planning as a growth opportunity, SEI worked in partnership with The Bancorp and FP Transitions to launch its new Business Pathfinder Program. The program, designed to help advisors better prepare and plan for a business transition, uses an integrated and customized approach that assists with all phases of the transition planning process, from initial firm evaluation to final transaction execution. The program provides each advisor with a plan and strategy unique to his or her situations and needs. Additionally, aspects of the succession planning process that are typically separate will be fully integrated within the program.  

The succession planning process is often difficult due to so many moving parts, including guidance around the all-important financing piece. This program brings all of those moving parts together to help advisors make better succession planning decisions. As part of the collaboration, SEI works with advisors to complete a practice assessment, exploring succession goals and key information about the business. FP Transitions uses this information to produce a strategic report on the business, including its strengths, weaknesses, and position in the marketplace. Finally, The Bancorp confers with advisors regarding financing.