Words matter. The word “Hispanic” represents an individual whose heritage is traced to a Spanish-speaking country or culture. The word “Latino” represents an individual whose heritage is traced to a Latin American country or culture. While these two words are interchanged in the same spaces and conversations, they represent different communities. One thing they have in common is their sense of connection to heritage.
The word heritage is founded on inheritance; those things that are passed down through generations hold a special meaning, and even define an individual to bring about their unique sense of identity. Hispanic Heritage has been nationally celebrated since 1968 and was expanded to a month-long celebration, from September 15 through October 15, in 1988.
At Arvest, we are founded on a banking model focused on the local communities we serve. We meet their needs through our products and services and support their goals by valuing their economic driving potential. We believe in nurturing the foundation of relationships and people. That commitment starts with our own associates.
We invest in developing an environment that inspires all Arvest associates to communicate openly, share ideas, build relationships, and trust that they are valued for who they are.
One of the avenues for developing this type of engaging environment is through our eight Associate Impact Groups. HOLArvest is one of them. This completely voluntary associate group is open to all 6,000+ Arvest associates. Its focus is to create awareness of the Hispanic and Latino communities, while empowering Arvest associates to grow professionally.
During this Hispanic Heritage Month, HOLArvest will be fully engaged across the Arvest footprint. Whether through supporting local bank events, leading financial literacy courses through Arvest EmpowerED, hosting internal fundraisers to support associate goals, and even leading Spanish language classes for associates, HOLArvest's visibility, excitement, and impact will be palpable!
The Latino population in the United States today represents almost 20% of the total population. We understand that strong communities develop strong economies, and that is a cycle of progress we aim to support. The products and services we offer unlock the dreams of individuals to build small businesses that can scale to large businesses. They provide the keys to new homeowners and plant the seeds for wealth and legacy-building for generations to come. We proactively listen to our customers and associates to create resources that meet their needs of today and provide support for tomorrow.
Join us in celebrating this Hispanic Heritage Month by visiting your branch to order your specialty debit card or visiting and sharing our Spanish-language Arvest website!
Member FDIC
Cinthya Allen
Chief Engagement Officer
