In Brief: B of A Unit, Bank Boston Win Leadership Awards

Two banks were among the four companies honored Wednesday with a Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership.

Seafirst Bank of Seattle and BankBoston Corp. were selected with Anheuser-Busch Cos. and Cascade Engineering from more than 60 companies judged.

Seafirst, an affiliate of BankAmerica Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., was honored for its aid program for low-income students in metropolitan areas. The bank has given 300 high school students up to $10,000 in college assistance, as well as opportunities to work at the bank.

BankBoston was recognized for creating a community development bank in Massachusetts that in nine years has grown to $1.6 billion of deposits and 42 branches. The institution, known as BankBoston Development Co., caters to low-to moderate-income individuals and small businesses run by minorities and women.

The award, named for the late Commerce secretary, recognizes achievements in employee and community relations. Vice President Al Gore presented the awards in a White House ceremony Wednesday.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER