C1 Bank, USF St. Petersburg collaborate on new Banking Institute

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- C1 Bank, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and Workforce Pinellas today announced an important new collaboration to develop innovative ways to teach key banking principles.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120402/FL80456LOGO )

The USFSP Banking Institute, run by the College of Business, provides management training for the C1 Bank Management Associate Program run at the bank's new headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg. The institute is financed through grants from C1 Bank, Work Force Pinellas and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

More than 100 employees work in the C1 Bank headquarters, located on the first floor of the Tampa Bay Times building. More workers are expected to be added as the bank expands across the state. 

C1 Bank, with $937M in assets as of December 31, 2012, has 21 locations across Tampa Bay and a loan production office in Miami.

The partnership is designed to ensure C1 Bank's continued excellence in staffing and customer service. The new course delivery system benefits both partners by training key bank associates while providing hands-on experience for USFSP students in mobile design, systems administration and instructional design and technology.

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council provided $80,000 in matching funds toward development of the program.  C1 Bank paid USFSP for the remaining development costs and for the faculty and operating costs of delivering the program.

Faculty and students from the USFSP College of Business developed a technology-based course delivery system to teach banking executives the key banking principles. Among the components of the program is the creation of an iPad based, web-interfaced learning system.  The material is developed on the iBook platform using iAuthor from Apple and includes dynamic video, audio and demonstrations so that students can interact with the material.  The system will also include a web-interface so that students have ready access to text, cases and the banking simulation.

"We are thrilled to be in downtown St. Pete. The vibrancy of the city is a key ingredient in making it possible for C1 Bank to attract the best and brightest young talent," said C1 Bank CEO Trevor Burgess. "The program has exceeded everyone's expectations and has proved to be a huge success in providing real world training through education, which is key to starting a successful career."

C1 Bank invites all news media to view the training facilities at the C1 Bank Headquarters Grand Opening Party on Thursday, April 18^th from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. located at 100 5^th Street South, St. Petersburg, Fla.

USF St. Petersburg Interim Regional Chancellor Bill Hogarth said:  "This is the kind of work that exemplifies USF St. Petersburg because it will benefit both students and an important community partner.''

C1 Bank President Katie Pemble added:  "We are committed to maintaining the highest quality of employees and products to serve our clients.  This unique collaboration with USF St. Petersburg enables us to accomplish that goal."

Randy Berridge, President of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC), a critical partner in the collaboration, said:  "Partnering with C1 Bank through our FHTCC Matching Grants Research Program exemplifies our best efforts to help attract, retain and grow high-tech industry in our 23 county Corridor region."

Rick Baker, former USF Vice President for Economic Development, led the effort to bring C1 Bank and the USFSP College of Business together. "This is a win-win result," he said. "It is exactly what universities and businesses need to be doing – collaborating in ways that grow jobs in our State and provide unique educational opportunities for our future generations."  

USFSP College of Business Dean Maling Ebrahimpour said the initiative underscores the university's commitment to growing the economy. ""Florida has many thriving businesses and the USFSP College of Business wants to work with them," Dr. Ebrahimpour said.

Local leaders also embraced today's announcements.

"We are excited that C1 Bank is downtown and we are excited that USFSP is collaborating to help them grow and prosper," said St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster.

Added Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni:  "Collaborations are the way to strengthen our business community. I applaud C1 Bank and USFSP on their efforts to come together to expand our job base."

About C1 Bank: C1 Bank is a local, independent bank that serves thousands of sophisticated savers and borrowers from 21 locations in Tampa Bay, a loan production office in Miami and online at www.C1Bank.com. C1 Bank is a leader in checking, savings and money markets, residential mortgages, business loans, SBA loan programs, and association and treasury services. C1 Bank is the Official Bank of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Official Bank of the Outback Bowl and a Corporate Partner of the Miami HEAT.

C1 Bank services include:

• Full Service Checking, Savings and Money Market depository products for consumers and businesses
• Residential mortgages, includes 30 years fixed, jumbo, NRA and portfolio loan products, all approved with quick local decision making
• Business loans and commercial real estate loans, up to $23 million, to assist local businesses grow
• Small Business Administration loans, up to $5 million – C1 Bank is a Preferred Lender and is consistently ranked as one of the region's top SBA lenders
• Emerald Banking is dedicated a team of bankers who serve physicians, lawyers, accountants and other professionals
• Association and Treasury Services – providing lockbox services to condominium associations and other businesses in need of sophisticated treasury management solutions

SOURCE C1 Bank