In the News

Read our monthly newsletter and news stories about Hyperion Bank.

 

News Stories

Community Banks Helping PA Businesses Recover and Connect

May, 2020--Charlie Crawford, Chairman & CEO of Hyperion Bank, was interviewed by Diane Sweeney for her HOMETOWN BANKER cover story: "Wicked Nimble Response--On the Frontline helping Pennsylvania Businesses Recover and Connect."

The article discussed how "Community bankers are on the front line in supporting local businesses and communities, helping them get access to funds to keep staff on payroll, doors open, and operations running."

It also described how PACB and its members, including Hyperion Bank, took swift action to review and respond to the preliminary version of the SBA loan program intended to provide economic relief for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Working together with state legislators, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association (PBA), and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) in a compressed timeframe, PACB helped its bank members implement the revised loan systems to process PPP loans and issued guidance about how best to serve their customers, physically and virtually.

When the PPP loan program first launched, Hyperion was one of many banks across the country that experienced problems accessing the SBA's online loan platform. Seeking assistance, Charlie contacted PACB. 

"Kevin Shrivers (PACB President &CEO) personally made phone calls, got me the name of a specific contact, and I gained almost immediate access. It's great to have PACB as a conduit, along with PBA and ICBA," said Charlie.

Pennsylvania's community banks also helped each other to ensure that all their customers could be served promptly. As Sweeney wrote, "The unique aspect of community banking is the connection bankers have to their customers. It's not the number or size of transactions that are most important to those in community banking, it is the personal connection to the people in their community."

 

Philadelphia Inquirer Interviews Charlie Crawford

April 6, 2020--Charlie Crawford, Chairman & CEO of Hyperion Bank, shared his expert insight with Inquirer financial reporters Erin Arvedlund and Andrew Seidman in their story, "What small business owners need to apply for the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program." 

The SBA Paycheck Protection Program known as PPP is a government funded, unsecured, no-guarantee loan program to help businesses with up to 500 employees, as well as sole proprietors and independent contractors, access economic relief funds that might help them ride out the storm created by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Intended largely to support payroll and other business expenditures so that companies can keep their staff employed, loans are for a maximum of two years at an interest rate of 1.00%. PPP loans are often forgivable for businesses that meet the lending criteria.

PPP was launched on April 3 and later paused due to depleted funding until April 27, when approved SBA lenders such as Hyperion Bank were authorized to resume accepting loan applications. As Charlie had predicted in the Inquirer story, "It's first come, first served, so the demand will be huge."

Hyperion Bank has been working to meet that demand by helping many of our business customers apply for a PPP loan up to $10 million. As Charlie noted in The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Turnaround time will be much quicker than normal SBA loan time. All that needs to be done is verify it's been a business in business, then payroll verification."

 

Checking vs. Savings Accounts

February 21, 2020--Hyperion’s Amy Ellis (Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending in Atlanta) was included in a U.S. News & World Report article about the differences between checking and savings accounts.

A checking account is a deposit account and is intended to be transactional and liquid with the deposit holder accessing their funds via check or ATM or increasingly through electronic methods," says Amy. "Most people associate checking accounts with paying bills or perhaps payroll."

The reporter also asked about traditional versus online banking. Amy notes that Hyperion provides the best of both worlds, “That’s a very individual decision based on everything from personal preference to lifestyle, comfort level, relationships with a banker (or not) and many other factors. As a banker, I will say that line is increasingly blurred, as bricks-and-mortar banks like ours stay on the forefront of banking technology. So, consumers can actually choose sort of a hybrid – online and digital convenience, but with real-live humans to call on if and when they need to. That’s us!”

 

Relationship banking, managing bank fees

February 12, 2020--Lou DeCesare, President and COO of Hyperion Bank, was quoted in an article published by thestreet.com about "How to Avoid Unnecessary Bank Fees." 

We rebate up to $25 per statement of fees charged to them by other banks when they use our bank's debit card for domestic withdrawals,” said Lou. "We think this makes it easier for customers to bank with us wherever they live or work."

 Lou also noted: “For a consumer interested in full-service banking - what might seem like old-fashioned, hands-on banking to some - you'll do better in the long run to choose a bank that wants to work with you across multiple bank products and services. In my 30 years' banking experience, I've found that too few consumers know that rate shopping may not actually save them fees or hassle in the long run.”

 

Our Atlanta office gets media attention

October 8, 2019--Hyperion Bank's expansion into Atlanta is getting noticed by national and local media. An American Banker story by John Reosti covered our new Atlanta office, with numerous quotes by Hyperion Bank Chairman & CEO Charlie Crawford.

Noting that Atlanta is a vibrant market with 4% unemployment (in August 2019) and a population that increased by 1.3% last year, Charlie added,

We're in two very nice markets...Both are growing. It gives us geographic diversity and customer diversity.

News of Hyperion Bank's Atlanta office was also featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Marietta Daily Journal, Metro Atlanta CEO, and the Northside Neighbor.

 

Hyperion Bank Chairman & CEO Charles B. Crawford, Jr. named a 2019 Inquirer Influencer of Finance

Philadelphia, PA—February 6, 2019

Logo-Inq-Influencer-of- Finance

Charles B. “Charlie” Crawford, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hyperion Bank, has been selected as a winner in the Banker category for The Philadelphia Inquirer’s 2019 Influencer of Finance Awards. Crawford will be recognized as one of the 29 Finance Industry Leaders to be celebrated at the Awards luncheon ceremony on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia, PA.

Crawford is a champion of community banking who has a strong record of creating value for bank constituents, including customers, employees, shareholders, regulators, and the community. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers (PACB) and is a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of YPO and The Union League.

After earning dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and management from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Crawford pursued a successful banking career in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to Philadelphia in August 2017 to helm Hyperion Bank, a locally-owned and operated community bank founded in 2006 in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood, at the intersection of N. 2nd Street and Girard Avenue. In fall 2018 Crawford led the $18.3 million recapitalization of Hyperion Bank, positioning it to make commercial loans up to $3 million, and deliver on a customer-focused “high touch” service model that strives to provide a better banking experience for individual and business clients.

I am honored to be recognized among the 29 distinguished recipients of the 2019 Inquirer Influencer of Finance award.

I believe that in the banking industry, products, pricing, and technology tend to be a commodity. The differentiator is the people and the relationship between the client and the banker. Our clients appreciate unrestricted access to local decision-makers, and we are passionate about delivering excellent service experiences. As a community bank, we are community builders, and I am proud to work with the dedicated Hyperion Bank team that helps us fulfill our mission every day.

Charles B. Crawford

Crawford earned an M.B.A. from the Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business, which honored him with its Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship in 2011, and additionally graduated from the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Banking. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of Georgia State University, The Carter Center, the Georgia Tennis Foundation, the Atlanta History Center, among others, and is looking forward to building relationships with more community organizations in the Philadelphia region.

Crawford is an avid tennis player and marathon runner, who has completed 16 full marathons, including Boston and New York City, and numerous half-marathons. A resident of Center City, Philadelphia, he enjoys running and training on the City’s streets, and can daily be found walking from the City Hall area where he lives to the Hyperion Bank office at 199 West Girard Avenue. In addition to coaching tennis, he was a cheerleader during his undergraduate years at the University of Pennsylvania. Crawford attributes much of his success in business to the leadership, discipline, and relationship skills he has practiced as a competitive athlete.

The Inquirer Influencer of Finance Awards program will feature keynote speaker, Patrick T. Harker, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, who will discuss the economic outlook, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion on FinTech (Financial Technology), an emerging industry that uses innovative technology to improve traditional activities in finance and delivery of financial services. The panel, led by Erin Arvedlund, Financial Columnist, The Philadelphia Inquirer, includes Julapa Jagtiani, Senior Special Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and Brendan McConnell, Chief Operating Officer, Brinker Capital. Tickets to the Awards program may be purchased at www.philly.com/financeinfluencers.

Contact Charlie Crawford at 215.789.4185 or ccrawford@hyperionbank.com. Learn more about Hyperion Bank at www.HyperionBank.com.

 

Hyperion raises $18.3 million

Northern Liberties-based Hyperion Bank raised $18.3 million from investors, a process than began shortly after CEO Charlie Crawford took the helm of the tiny lender last year. The influx of funds includes $14.8 million from a stock offering that completed on Sept. 30 and $3.5 million from existing shareholders.

Hyperion said the new capital will enable the bank to make more commercial loans and increase its loan limit to $3 million. The bank, which opened in 2006 at 2nd & Girard streets, still has just $88 million in total assets, as of June 30. Since Crawford took over, he hired a new chief financial officer, expanded staffing in its customers services and credit departments, started a residential mortgage lending department, and upgraded mobile and online banking technology.

-Philadelphia Business Journal | Jeff Blumenthal, October 15, 2018

Additional Story

Hyperion Bank completes $18.3 million recapitalization

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Joseph N. DiStefano, October 10, 2018

What’s new at Hyperion Bank and in our community?

Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletters to find out!

Each month we may introduce you to members of the Hyperion Bank team and featured businesses, highlight featured products and services, and share news about our community and upcoming events.

You may unsubscribe at any time. We will never share or sell your email address.

Read Our Monthly e-Newsletter

2020 Newsletters

September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

 

Archive

2019 Newsletters

December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

 

 

Back to Top