Yasmin T. Bates-Brown
Executive Vice President Community Affairs and Economic Development Harris Bankcorp, Inc.

Yasmin T. Bates-Brown
is Executive Vice President
for Community Affairs and
Economic Development and is
responsible for overseeing the company's community investment, government relations, Hispanic banking and community activities in the US, upholding the Harris commitment to being an active and engaged corporate citizen.

Yasmin began her banking career in 1976 when she joined Harris N.A. as a Commercial Banking Trainee. Within three years, Yasmin was elected a banking officer and promoted to Team Leader of the Cash Management Sales and Consulting staff. In 1981, as a result of her numerous accomplishments in this area, she received the designation of Assistant Vice President and was promoted to Section Manager of Sales and Consulting.

In 1984, Yasmin created Harris' Neighborhood Lending Program-one of the first programs of its type in the country. This program soon became the model from which other major banks would build their inner-city lending programs. Under her effective leadership thousands of housing units, small businesses and special purpose projects received rehabilitation funding.

In May of 1991, Yasmin was promoted to Vice President and Division Administrator of the newly created Metropolitan Banking Division. Her responsibilities expanded to include new business development and relationship management of small businesses with annual revenues of less than $5 million. This increased focus on small business generated significant growth in both conventional and SBA loans.

Yasmin was promoted to President of Harris Chicago Community Bank (HCCB) in 1994 when she was charged with the task of growing the bank's small business, community development and consumer loans and services throughout Chicagoland. 

In 1998, she was appointed President of the City Region and her responsibilities expanded to include strategically integrating the management of business segments across Chicago.

In 2003, Yasmin was appointed Executive Vice President, Chicagoland-South Division, which includes the City, Southwest, Southeast, Central, Far Southwest (Joliet) regions and Northwest Indiana.  In addition to her P & L work for these regions, Yasmin was also responsible for the integration of several major acquisitions.

Yasmin is a board member of the Neighborhood Housing Services, the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN).  She is a member of The Chicago Network and Executives’ Club of Chicago.  Yasmin was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley to serve on the first Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) committee for the City of Chicago. Additionally, she served on the Fannie Mae National Advisory Board and the American Bankers Association (ABA) Community Development Committee and a number of other boards.

A graduate of the University of Illinois, Yasmin holds a B.S. in Business Administration.

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