St. Louis-based Midwest BankCentre promoted Wes Burns to executive vice president of community and economic development.
Burns has led the community and economic development team as senior VP for the past year. Midwest BankCentre has committed $200 million for CED loans over five years to revitalize the St. Louis region and grown its team with members focusing on Black, Bosnian and Latinx communities as well as on Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing for workforce housing developments.
“Wes has been instrumental in leading and implementing our common goal of shared prosperity, which focuses on access to opportunity and capital for traditionally underserved groups,” said Chair and CEO Orvin Kimbrough. “Wes focuses on fulfilling the capital needs of nonprofits and faith-based institutions, community development projects and small businesses in historically disinvested communities while also reinforcing our team’s strengths in tax credits.“
To Burns, the bank “can grow the St. Louis economy by providing financial solutions that address chronic challenges by placing capital from our depositors in high-impact investments.
“The ripple effect of access to reasonably priced capital on our community will be transformative,” he added. “Every loan we make to start or scale a business generates jobs and tax revenue that funds community schools and public services. It is easy to imagine the ripple effect we can have on strengthening neighborhoods, energizing local communities and enhancing the St. Louis region.”