Regions teams are known for their leadership – not just in the workplace, but in their communities.
National Make a Difference Day, a day of community service held every October, is a time to celebrate the power of volunteerism and the impact individuals can have when they come together for a common cause. At Regions, associates don’t just participate – they lead. Across our footprint, team members step up all year long to organize group volunteer events that create lasting change in the communities we serve.
“Every act of service and kindness can create ripples of change in our communities,” said Gina Sian, head of the Regions Making Life Better Institute®. “I am extra grateful to our associates who go the extra mile to unite us. They turn volunteering into something more than service – they turn it into connection, into teambuilding, into a shared purpose of making a difference together.”
Every act of service and kindness can create ripples of change in our communities. Gina Sian, head of the Regions Making Life Better Institute®
Leading by Example
Last month, Consumer Banking Executive Tina Gilmore demonstrated the power of associate leadership in action by sharing a vision for a Greater Gulf Coast Volunteer Blitz – a community engagement initiative that brought together more than 200 associates across 10 markets.
Collectively, the team contributed 552 volunteer hours to support 17 local organizations.
From Mississippi to Florida, teams mobilized in Meridian, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Mobile, Dothan, Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, and Tallahassee. Their efforts ranged from packaging pantry items at food banks and organizing clothing closets at donation centers, to assembling hygiene kits for children’s homes and cleaning kennels at animal shelters. In Hattiesburg, associates partnered with the University of Southern Mississippi to mentor students on professional development topics such as public speaking, financial literacy, and interview preparation.
Gilmore’s leadership set the tone for meaningful engagement. “I have always believed that if you build your community, you will build your bank,” Gilmore said. “It’s our responsibility to give back to the communities that support us. Regions Bank empowers associates to do just that through our What a Difference a Day Makes program, which provides a paid day off annually for volunteer service. I am incredibly proud of our Gulf Coast teams – their passion and commitment made a lasting impact.”
I have always believed that if you build your community, you will build your bank. It’s our responsibility to give back to the communities that support us. Tina Gilmore, Consumer Banking Executive
Carrying Out the Mission
Regions Impact Networks are associate-led groups that bring the bank’s mission to life across its 15-state footprint. These networks foster leadership development, promote wellbeing, offer career resources and drive community engagement through volunteerism. At the heart of these efforts are Marketplace Committees – local teams that organize service events and rally volunteers to meet the unique needs of their communities.
Bibiana Gomez, Program Manager for Inclusion, Belonging, and Impact, leads and supports the networks and is proud of the momentum they’ve built. “Our associates are deeply connected to their communities, and they’re using their leadership to make a difference,” she said. “These events are more than just service – they’re a reflection of our values in action.”
As part of Regions’ recent Evergreen celebration, Kelly Love, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager in Charlotte, led multi-location volunteer efforts for the North Carolina Impact Network, bringing associates together to serve across the region.
Our associates are deeply connected to their communities, and they’re using their leadership to make a difference. Bibiana Gomez, Program Manager for Inclusion, Belonging, and Impact
In Atlanta, Hannah Martin, a Capital Markets associate and active member of the local Impact Network, organized a food drive and volunteer event supporting MUST Ministries in August. Meanwhile, the Orlando Impact Network continues to lead by example, recently hosting a volunteer day at Second Harvest Food Bank to help fight food insecurity in Central Florida.
Community Outreach is Their Day Job
At Regions, community engagement isn’t just nice thing to do, it’s part of the business strategy. That’s why the company embeds Community Relations Officers (CROs) throughout the markets it serves. The CROs work closely with Market Executives and local teams to lead our local market strategy, including coordinating volunteer efforts, managing community investments and sponsorships and cultivating community partnerships with local nonprofits.
One recent example of this work in action took place during Hands On Atlanta Week, the city’s largest annual service initiative. The event mobilizes thousands of volunteers to support more than 50 nonprofits and schools, addressing some of Atlanta’s most pressing needs.
Atlanta CRO Lara Wagner led Regions’ participation, coordinating three impactful volunteer events across the city. At Atlanta Technical College, associates supported the Horticulture program by installing a greenhouse, planting garden beds and donating supplies for student use. At City of Refuge, volunteers assembled hygiene and comfort kits and wrote personal notes of encouragement for residents transitioning into stable housing. And at Partners for HOME, associates packed move-in kits to help individuals experiencing homelessness settle into permanent housing.
“The response from Regions associates to Hands On Atlanta Week has been thrilling and inspiring,” Wagner said. “Associates from all lines of business prioritized giving back to our shared community, and their efforts made a tremendous difference in the lives of our neighbors. We truly are making life better.”
Putting Talents to Work
Regions associates don’t just volunteer their time, they also contribute their skills and experience to help nonprofits thrive. Through the Regions Skills in Service® program, associates apply their subject-matter knowledge to support organizations facing specific challenges, offering high-impact solutions that go beyond traditional volunteerism.
Several recent projects highlight the meaningful difference this kind of service can make. Earlier this year, the Data Visualization team, led by Miguel Encarnacao, partnered with Childcare Resources in Birmingham, Ala., to enhance the organization’s reporting capabilities. Their recommendations helped improve data clarity and storytelling, strengthening the nonprofit’s ability to communicate its impact.
Also in Birmingham, associates collaborated with Cool Green Trees to refine strategic planning, improve website usability and build out a more effective communications and social media strategy. In Douglasville, Ga., Regions teams supported Beyond the Front Porch, a nonprofit that provides free weekend educational field trips for K-12 students. With grant-writing support from Corporate Marketing and Communications, associates helped secure $10,000 in funding to expand the organization’s reach.
Partnering with Brian to formally promote the launch of In Pursuit Of has been incredibly rewarding for several reasons. Kim Borges, Market PR Specialist for Regions
But one of the most exciting RSS projects just launched in Indianapolis. Kim Borges, Market PR Specialist for Regions, is using her media and communications experience to support a new nonprofit founded by Regions colleague Brian Carman, a member of the Regions Community Lending & Investments team. Carman recently established In Pursuit Of, an organization that provides professional attire to under-resourced men, including veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals and those facing economic hardship, who are preparing for job interviews and career advancement.
Thanks to Borges’ media savvy, In Pursuit Of has gained significant visibility, with a successful kickoff event and coverage in local news outlets, business publications and TV segments. Donations of high-quality men’s business attire are now pouring in.
“Partnering with Brian to formally promote the launch of In Pursuit Of has been incredibly rewarding for several reasons,” Borges said. “There’s a tremendous need for the services he’s providing, confirmed by the media coverage he’s received. Our collaboration has also offered me a unique opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for Brian’s many skills and talents and to see him in a different light. I’m watching him soar – in admiration and awe.”
Expanding Financial Education Opportunities
As demand for financial education continues to grow across Regions’ footprint, schools and nonprofit organizations are increasingly turning to the bank for support. It’s a challenge the Community Engagement team is proud to meet – thanks to the help of Next Step Ambassadors.
These specially trained volunteers deliver tailored Regions Next Step courses, playing a vital role in expanding access to financial wellness education through in-person seminars. Their work helps empower individuals and families with the knowledge they need to make informed financial decisions.
Among the first to step into this leadership role were Bianca Hill and Pamela Speights, analysts in Enterprise Credit Risk Management. Both continue to lead the way in financial education delivery, while also actively engaging with the Birmingham Impact Network, regularly bringing volunteer opportunities to their colleagues.
According to Keren Treme, Community Engagement Financial Education Trainer, their contributions have been invaluable.
“Bianca and Pamela are wonderful volunteer partners,” Treme said. “Not only do they lead their own outreach efforts, they’re also fantastic recruiters – bringing in new instructors and helping us grow the Next Step Ambassador program. We’re so grateful for their leadership and commitment to financial wellness.”
Across markets and businesses, Regions associates are proving that leadership doesn’t stop at the branch or office door – it extends into the communities they serve. Whether organizing large-scale volunteer events, supporting local nonprofits through strategic know-how or delivering financial education, associates are living out Regions’ mission to make life better – while making a difference.
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