Liberty Savings Bank’s branches are run by Lauren Fuller, Nevenka Kovcic, Danielle Bachar, Lisa Toppin and Sandy Perrine–all members of the community. All of the bank’s employees are on a first-name basis with customers, helping them financially by offering mortgages, home equity lines of credit, personal loans, checking accounts, savings accounts and CDs.
Because they live and work in the area, Liberty’s employees know that helping the community is the right thing to do, and it makes them all stronger on a personal and professional level. As a result, the philanthropic force is integral to the entire team. Last year alone, staff members spent an estimated 400 hours volunteering in the region and donated over $21,000 to 18 different local charities. Each branch is viewed as a community hub, and each manager is asked to choose an event to host and run with all employees involved. Examples of events include a food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Manatee at the Bradenton location, a “Seniors vs. Crime” scam prevention education event at the Sarasota location, a school supplies drive for Garden Elementary School at the North Venice location, an International Day of Charity pizza party benefiting SPARCC at the South Sarasota location, and a BLT (Breakfast, Learn and Talk) on senior living at the South Venice location. In addition, many volunteers also support the local chapters of Habitat for Humanity.
On the Habitat for Humanity’s Family Service Committee, Liberty Savings Bank managers get involved from the very beginning with every applicant. “We assess each person’s level of need, willingness to partner with Habitat and their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan,” says Bachar.
“When we attended the Manatee Habitat Women Build Holiday Tea party in December, we got to hear firsthand the story of a future Habitat homeowner,” recalls Fuller. “She shared how her Habitat home will mean she can, for the first time, have a home to be with her family for the holidays–something she has dreamed of for a long time.”
In the greatest times of community need, Liberty Savings Bank is there to lend a hand. “Hurricane Ian damaged parts of the historic Venice Theatre,” shares Kovcic. “We are working hard to keep the reconstruction funded and on track.” Liberty Savings Bank’s philanthropic efforts extend to people from all walks of life—from school-age children to senior citizens.
Fuller enjoyed volunteering for the Big Bank Theory, a financial literacy program presented to all twelfth graders in Manatee County schools, because she could tell that the students really enjoyed it. “The students at Garden Elementary School really appreciated all the pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, backpacks and more, collected at our school supply drive,” adds Toppin.
“Our BLT event was also really fun,” says Perrine. “Laura Gray, one of our loan advisers, did a great job leading the discussion of the things to consider when you are thinking about a transition to senior living.”
The people at Liberty Savings Bank believe in the power of community. Their dedicated team is proud to work and volunteer in Sarasota-Manatee, striving to make it a better place to live. Together, they invest their time and effort into creating positive change and contributing to the well-being of the people in this vibrant community.
