President Barack Obama meets with Centinel Bank CEO Rebeca Romero-Rainey

Centinel Bank CEO and Board Chair Rebeca Romero-Rainey was requested by the White House to attend a special meeting with President Barack Obama. The December 22nd meeting was with the President, Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner, Director of the National Economic Council Lawrence Summers, and 12 community bankers from around the country including Romero-Rainey. President Obama wanted to hear directly about how his administration can help support community banks and their vital role in both the local and national economies.

“Our nation’s more than 8,000 “Main Street” community banks continue to serve the needs of their local customers and are critical to our nation’s economic recovery,” said Romero-Rainey. “[We are] pleased the President chose to meet with community bankers to discuss ways the administration can help community banks enhance their lending. We thank the President for hosting this meeting and for listening to the needs of local community banks.”

2009 also saw Romero-Rainey appointed to a special Community Bank Advisory Board to the FDIC, and appointment on the Independent Community Banker’s Association national Board of Directors including a position of vice-chair of the organization’s “Lending Sub-Committee.” Romero-Rainey is the only banker in the country to be appointed to an advisory role to the FDIC and to meet to advise the President on community banking matters. She was named by The Taos News as 2009 “Citizen of the Year.”