|
Temple is
responsible for the community reinvestment activities of
First Federal while strengthening fair lending practices in
Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. “I am inclusive, ensuring we are
lending to low and moderate income areas, not just places
like Ottawa Hills, Sylvania and Maumee,” says Temple.
As an
influential community activist and financial literacy
advocate, Temple points out that living right financially
may be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
He and his
team are debunking the myths local residents have about
money.
“From
planning to effective money management, I encourage our
community to experience the one-on-one services we offer at
our local branches vs. only dealing with huge corporate
brands for their banking needs,” he explains.
Temple
does an amazing job of outlining the basics of changing
harmful money habits during our chat.
“Changing
your spending habits is not an easy quick fix. Instead it is
a paradigm shift on how to handle money for the long haul
using simple processes,” explains Temple.
“We all
have to deal with repairs on our homes and maintenance to
our cars. We have families to provide for and home ownership
to realize. We have college to pay for and retirements to
plan. We teach you how to budget for everything while having
an emergency fund to deal with life’s challenges.”
To start,
Temple suggests meeting with a bank specialist to help
families plan. “Building up and maintaining a savings of
three to six months’ expenses is a smart focus as an
emergency fund to get you through the hard times.”
“At First
Federal Bank of the Midwest we don’t tell you what to do
with your money, instead we teach you how to manage money
for yourself.”
When asked
what he loves most about his job, Temple responds, “I always
tell people I love what I do, who I get to do it for, and
most importantly I love who I get to do it with.” He
explains it takes a village of passionate people to truly
impact financial literacy in our community. He gives
special mention to Susan A. Jester, Retail Community Lender
(West Central location) as well as Eunice Glover, Banking
Center Manager) as two of his staunchest partners in passion
for stimulating the economy while providing an incredible
banking service to the underserved.
In today’s
professional climate, this is even more essential than in
the past because the old working model of ‘hired at 20 and
retiring from the same company at 62 with a pension’ is
dead.
“We do
some very impactful things. First Federal Bank is a
community bank geared towards community things. People need
to experience the difference we bring to banking.”
Since 2014, First Federal Bank and First Insurance Group have given
nearly 700 employees $10 annually to Pay it Forward in our
community. Their team members truly enjoy surprising others
with random acts of kindness such as gifting school supplies
or delivering gift baskets to hospital patients.
First
Federal Bank has also
partnered with Toledo Public Schools in conjunction with The
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program, to
close the achievement gap by preparing all students to
complete high school and be ready for college or success in
the global economy.
They
adopted Rosa Parks Elementary School where they recognize
students of the month by awarding each child a care package
and monetary donation that the school can allocate to things
such as special events, supplies, uniforms or the like. At
the end of the year they throw a pizza party for all the
honorees over the course of the school year.
“What I
think our partnership with AVID does best is encourage and
inspire kids while teaching critical thinking and financial
literacy,” states Temple. “This helps children learn how
they can put the principles of financial literacy into
practice as adults regardless of their future chosen
industry.”
Temple has
been in the banking industry for 20 years and was nominated
for the 2016 Toledo's Top 20 under 40, awarded the 2012
Toledo Branch NAACP Emerging Young Community Leader Award
and the 2012 Emerging Leader African American Legacy Project
of Northwest Ohio.
As a
graduate of The University of Toledo, Reginald is no
stranger to philanthropic service.
Temple is
a member of the Toledo Chapter of the NAACP, African
American Leadership Council of United Way, Prince Hall Free
and Accepted Masons Amazon Lodge #4, Maumee Chapter #6 Royal
Arch Masons, Xi Tau Chapter of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
Inc., and is a Certified Ohio High School Athletic
Association (OHSAA) Football and Basketball official.
His non
for profit board responsibilities include West Toledo YMCA,
MLK Center Kitchen for the Poor and Adelante.
Reginald
and his wife of 15 years, Jeanna, live in Holland where they
raise their son, Collin.
|
