CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 15, 2017) – Joseph V. Chillura, president and CEO of USAmeriBank, has been named a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Award in Florida. The awards program recognizes innovation and exceptional performance by entrepreneurs.
Since the bank’s founding in 2007, Chillura and his team have focused on growing USAmeriBank organically by recruiting experienced banking professionals with deep connections to the community. USAmeriBank now has 29 branch locations serving businesses and individuals in Florida and Alabama, including the bank’s first branch in Lakeland, opening this summer.
A few months after USAmeriBank was founded, Chillura left his position as an executive at a well-established bank to join USAmeriBank as its CEO. Working closely with then-President Brad McMurtrey, who continues to serve as a director on bank’s Board of Directors, the bank grew to $165 million in assets by the end of 2007. The bank surpassed $4 billion in assets in 2016.
USAmeriBank succeeded despite the significant economic challenges created by the Great Recession, which hit Florida particularly hard. While many other banks around the state struggled, with Chillura’s leadership, the founding team built a strong foundation that allowed the bank to grow during the turbulent years of the recession, and take off once the economy began to improve.
As it has grown, the company has worked hard to retain a positive company culture, quality customer service and effective risk management. USAmeriBank employees own 16 percent of the bank, and the bank has very little turnover among leadership. USAmeriBank has been ranked for eight consecutive years as one of the Tampa Bay Times’ “Best Places to Work,” and USAmeriBancorp, Inc., the parent company of the bank, has received consistently favorable ratings from third-party organizations such as Kroll Bond Rating Agency and Bauer Financial.
Chillura leads with a passion for working with business owners to help them accomplish their goals. As the banking industry focuses more on technology, USAmeriBank not only offers customers tools like a mobile app and other digital solutions, but also remains focused on building strong, in-person relationships with customers, and encouraging employees to think outside the box to address customers’ challenges creatively.
Chillura’s commitment to philanthropic work is reflected in USAmeriBank’s charitable contributions, which totaled more than $1 million in 2016, focusing on impactful programming in the areas of Youth Education & Development, Arts & Culture, Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Financial Literacy. But the bank’s support goes well beyond writing checks. Employees completed more than 6,500 hours of community service last year alone, and the bank offers its employees paid time off for volunteering.
Chillura, a Tampa native, also serves on the Board of Directors of Lowry Park Zoo, Jesuit Alumni Association and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and on the Advisory Board of Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County. This year Chillura and his wife Patsy also served as honorary chairs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay’s annual gala.
Founded by EY (formerly Ernst & Young), the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Award celebrates 31 years of recognizing exceptional business leaders. The statewide winner will be announced June 23 at a gala at the Omni Orlando Resort.
About USAmeriBank:
USAmeriBank is an independent, non-public bank based in Clearwater, Fla., that has established itself as an outstanding middle-market financial institution. The bank serves the needs of individuals and businesses in the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and in the Birmingham, Montgomery and Tallapoosa areas in Alabama, by providing a high-level of personalized service and attention to a targeted customer base. USAmeriBank’s parent company is USAmeriBancorp, Inc. More information is available at www.USAmeriBank.com.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year:
Entrepreneur of the Year, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in over 145 cities and more than 60 countries. For more information, please visit ey.com/eoy.