Signing Ceremony Marks Santander's First Three Year Commitment To Wheelock College

BOSTON, Dec. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander Bank, N.A., one of the top 25 retail banks in the United States by deposits, formalized its first agreement with Wheelock College today in a three-year commitment to be implemented through its Santander Universities division.  

Funding provided in the agreement will be dedicated primarily to establishing comprehensive financial literacy programs for families served by the Mattahunt Community Center in Mattapan, Massachusetts.  Programs will include college readiness and career awareness sessions designed to meet the needs of families and children in the surrounding community. Wheelock College will oversee development and delivery of the programming which will be launched in January 2014.

"We are proud to partner with Wheelock College to offer financial literacy, college readiness and career awareness programs to the clients of the Mattahunt Community Center," said Roman Blanco, president and CEO of Santander US. "These programs help to teach people how to look at opportunities for improving their lives and the lives of their children by focusing on education and career opportunities. As a retail bank committed to serving the needs of its customers, we are especially delighted with the financial literacy elements of this project, which will give participants the tools to make informed financial decisions."

Wheelock College began supporting the mission of the Mattahunt Community Center in 2011 in response to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's request for the public and private sectors to forge partnerships to serve the greater Mattapan community. Nearly 130 local families are served by programs and services offered at the Center. The financial literacy, college readiness and career awareness programs funded through the Santander grant will support education of low-income, first generation and immigrant residents in Mattapan and the surrounding communities.

"We are pleased to deepen our relationship with Santander by partnering to support the Mattahunt Community Center in Mattapan," said Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College. "This partnership is an example of Santander's commitment to education and the community; we are truly excited to partner with them to create opportunities where children and youth can thrive, families are supported, and those who work with children and families are appreciated."

About Us

Santander Universities is the channel through which the Santander Group supports higher education areas such as teaching and research, international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, entrepreneurial initiatives, student exchange and innovation. Last year, the program supported more than 4,105 new projects and 37,712 scholarships globally. In 2012, Santander Universities funded over 950 scholarships in the United States. For more information about Santander Universities Global Division, visit www.santander.com/universities.

Santander Bank, N.A. is a top 25 retail bank in the United States by deposits, with a presence in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Santander's 9,571 employees serve the financial goals of American consumers and businesses through its 706 branches and 2,084 ATMs. Headquartered in Boston, Santander is supervised by the Office of the Currency of the Comptroller and is FDIC insured under its legal name, Santander Bank, N.A. Santander in the United States is a wholly-owned, financially autonomous subsidiary of the Santander Group, a global commercial and retail bank. For more information about Santander in the United States, visit www.santanderbank.com or call 877-768-2265.

Wheelock College has known for the past 125 years that improving the lives of children and families isn't always easy – but it's always worth it. We're teachers, advocates, social workers, and agents of change—leaders who are committed to changing the world in the heart of Boston and around the world. We prepare students to lead change in any career they choose. We offer 15 undergraduate majors and 22 minors, 9 graduate programs and a multitude of non-degree program options— all of which inspire a world of good. For more information, visit www.wheelock.edu

SOURCE Santander Bank, N.A.