Spare change: Nebraska CEO Displays Blizzard Bravura With Rides Home,

Mark Sutko recently had to tackle some extra duty in addition to those of president and chief executive officer of $270 million-asset Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Co., Kearney, Neb. - chief snowstorm chauffeur and hotelier.

When one of this winter's many snowstorms pounded central Nebraska one recent afternoon, the bank - like much of the rest of the town - decided to close down. But the storm threatened to strand employees at work.

Mr. Sutko jumped in his four-wheel-drive Ford Explorer and drove to Platte Valley's various locations, picking up stranded employees. He managed to drive several people home, in a journey that lasted almost until 11 p.m. and included only one encounter with a snowdrift.

But after battling the storm, which he said stranded more than a hundred cars on the highway, he finally gave up and brought five employees to spend the night at his house.

"It's the call of duty," Mr. Sutko said. "My fear was that staff would leave the bank and not be able to get home at all."

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Florida's BankAtlantic Bancorp is steaming all-ahead-full after an oceangoing market.

The Fort Lauderdale bank announced that it will send automated teller machines to ply the high seas aboard four more cruise ships.

The agreement with Celebrity Cruises will be $1.8 billion-asset BankAtlantic's second foray into shipboard ATMs. Last year, the bank spearheaded the use of the machines at sea, using satellite technology to complete real-time transactions.

Bon voyage is expected within the first quarter, when the machines will be installed on the Horizon, Zenith, Meridian, and Century, the cruise line's five-star fleet.

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Though the Green Bay Packers fell short of the Super Bowl this year, one of the team's stars, Reggie White, is still considered a champ in Knoxville, Tenn.

After starting a community investment bank there with a $1 million investment last year, the huge lineman is seen as a champion of the homeless and welfare recipients.

His bank, Inner City Investment Corp., last year made nearly $38,000 in micro loans to 89 people, most of whom have low incomes and reside in minority or disadvantaged communities, the Associated Press reported.

The bank is targeting people who have little collateral or chance of securing loans from traditional banks. The borrowers also receive a six- week course on business skills and credit building. Five customers have moved off off welfare rolls as a result of the bank's assistance.

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