Aj Stephens, Cfei® Email & Phone Number

Birmingham, Al, Us

•Develops financial and business curricula to empower underserved communities•Leads cross-functional teams to develop and execute strategic partnership initiatives, resulting in significant business growth and enhanced market presence•Created and facilitated the "Entrepreneurship Launchpad" program in partnership with the Housing Authority Birmingham District, teaching entrepreneurship to residents in two public housing sites. Led a class of six students, with two becoming full-time entrepreneurs with LLCs, business bank accounts, and revenue-generating businesses•Implemented a 2-part series on responding to RFPs, resulting in 2 attendees turned clients winning contracts with MLB at Rickwood Field, the NFL for the Super Bowl, and the City of Birmingham within 4 months•Fostered and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and mutual benefit in all partnership activities

•Strategically spearheaded community lending efforts across Alabama, delivering tailored lending, banking, and educational services to underserved businesses, significantly enhancing economic stability•Cultivated and managed a robust portfolio of profitable lending and deposit relationships with both new and existing customers, driving substantial growth and retention•Established and leveraged strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, amplifying support for the small business community and boosting local economic development•Negotiated and secured high-value partnerships, driving increased revenue and expanding market reach through strategic collaborations and increased CRA investments throughout the state of Alabama•Streamlined onboarding for internal clients and external partners using CRM tools and analytics, boosting partnership efficiency and customer service

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

•Established a comprehensive framework for sourcing micro-loan clients in the Auburn/Opelika and West Georgia areas, driving economic development and supporting small business growth through targeted technical assistance•Partnered with banks to create lending pipelines and channel investments into our CDFI, significantly increasing their CRA investments•Built a robust pipeline of micro-enterprise loan clients and community partners, achieving a portfolio size of $176,000 within six months, significantly contributing to local economic vitality•Delivered impactful presentations and workshops, providing critical technical assistance to small business owners and enhancing their capacity for sustainable growth

Homewood, Alabama, United States

•Successfully opened a new branch, led a team of experienced banking professionals, and developed/implemented best practices and innovative marketing strategies to drive branch growth•Managed daily operational tasks, including compliance and risk management, and trained new employees•Sourced and established referral partnerships with other institutions, creating robust referral pipelines to expand the branch's reach•Ensured a consistent optimal customer experience, including opening new accounts and handling transactional needs

•Opened new personal and business accounts while also assisting with transactional needs•Handled business development by bringing in new business/personal customers and creating partnerships•Led business development efforts growing branch by 7%•Provided technical assistance, speaking at 4 events on behalf of the bank and represented the bank at community events•Developed new relationships on behalf of branch and maintains current relationships with customers•Assisted and facilitated operational needs of the branch, enhances customer experience through anticipating needs and educating customers on products and services that best fit•Served as branch representative for civic activities, oversees CRA requirements are met by researching service opportunities and implementing them•Assisted supervisor with performing internal audits, servicing atm, and vault•Worked with manager to enhance branch productivity and to maintain functionality

•Consistently met and exceeded goals finishing in the top 10% in the Birmingham district each quarter.•Recognized as #2 Personal Banker in Birmingham District in November 2020•Top producer with most: products sold, accounts opened, calls made, and loan approvals•Achieved 100 calls per week, 1 product/ 2 new accounts a week, and a loan portfolio of $134,263.81

•Engaged customers in conversations, listening to them, and proactively helping to meet their financial needs •Handled customers’ transactional needs, such as deposits, withdrawals, and payments while maintaining the cash drawer in balance•Met personal goals and assisted team members to meet branch goals

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

•Planned and implemented effective recruitment strategies to meet or exceed enrollment goals•Produced thorough monthly analytics reports from social media channels, website, and customer feedback•Developed and executed marketing campaigns for eye care clinic to increase sales•Handled all photography needs for Eye Care Clinic and School of Optometry

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Communication And Media Studies

Education record