The Right Source

1st Source Bank and Penta Group team up to bring financial resources to SE Fort Wayne

Tabitha Ervin
Of Fort Wayne Ink Spot

1st Source Bank is teaming up with the Penta C.S. Group Minority Entrepreneurial Center located at 2531 South Calhoun Street to open their first loan production office on the city’s southside.

I recently spoke with Debra Stark Moser, Vice President & Fort Wayne Regional Sales Manager at 1st Source Bank about this new venture and when it will open to serve the community. Debra told me that in addition to working with the city’s SEED program, the bank has offered financial wellness presentations at various locations on the southside including churches, Joshua’s Hand, and the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Tabitha: Debra, tell me all about how this came to fruition.

Debra: Well, John Dortch and I have known each other for many years and with his work on the minority entrepreneurial center we thought it would be perfect to start a loan production office right in the facility.

In early 2020, we were able to take a few leaders from the bank including our Regional President and Community Development Officer, (along with a few other bankers and lenders) on a trolley tour to various locations on the southside. This idea was in the early planning stages, so we wanted to show them the community from a closer, more relational viewpoint.

Tabitha: How will the new office work?

Debra: Soon, we will have one full-time employee running the office.

When we first open, the office will be by appointment only. This employee will be out in the community getting to know people and learning about their businesses and their needs. We will take loan applications, business banking applications, agriculture loans applications for farmers, and consumer and mortgage loan applications, as needed, at the loan production office.

We have surveyed the area and these were the highest interests of the community. We will continue to conduct Financial Wellness presentations as well (within the Penta building and in the community) and work closely with first-time home buyers and people who want to establish or reestablish their credit.

Tabitha: This is excellent, and I look forward to the impact this office will have on the community. When will you open it?

Debra: We're set to open on August 2nd, and we are finalizing the full-time employee who will work at the location (in addition to several other lenders who will come over and support as needed). We are a relationship bank, and we are looking forward to being in the community and building relationships through our office at the Penta Building. We will also be a part of the Open Streets event on August 29, telling people more about our new office and what we will offer.

Tabitha: Finally, what do you expect to see from this office?

Debra: We are excited to offer more financial wellness presentations and more education right in the community. We look forward to meeting with the community and building relationships while we support their consumer and business needs.

We want to build trust and support residents and businesses as they realize their dreams along with teaching people how credit can work for them. We are looking to be creative about how we serve the southeast community, and we are here for whatever people need, not just to deliver our loan products but to make sure we customize our options for everyone. We want to create those relationships along with creating a stable banking environment in the community at the Penta building.

It is our mission to assist the residents of Southeast Fort Wayne in achieving security, building wealth, and realizing their dreams.

Tabitha: This sounds exciting! I can’t wait to reconnect in 6-12 months to see how it’s going!