918 Series
Dr. Jerry Goodwin
Photo, Ashley Townsend, Vice President, Community Manager, Chase Bank
The Oklahoma Eagle conducted an interview with Ashley Townsend of Chase Bank. She is vice president community manager at the bank. Joining in the interview was Kim Marsh, a news and editorial contributor at the newspaper. (The interview was edited for clarity and conciseness.)
The Oklahoma Eagle: As Vice President, Community Manager for Chase, what are your office’s, and the institution’s, strategic goals for African American financial services customers and the North Tulsa community?
Ashley Townsend: Chase announced a $30 billion equity commitment to help close the racial wealth gap that exists in our Black and brown communities across the country. They have hired 150 community managers (across the country) like me to lead this work in communities like ours. I am Tulsa’s Vice President Community Manager, and I focus on building strong relationships between Chase and our African American communities here in Tulsa. I have been with Chase for eight years in total. I have been in this position for two years. I was a personal banker for six years prior to my current role.
I do this by partnering with local organizations, companies, churches, and other types of groups to host free financial health workshops. I host workshops that teach people about budgeting strategies and the importance of saving and building credit. We also partner with our Chase team to host home lending workshops and investing 101 sessions. We are here to offer free tips and tools, and to provide resources to the community in the places and spaces where they are most familiar and comfortable.
I can get out of the four walls of the bank and meet people where they are. I’m all about…teaching people how to save their money and to create generational wealth.
The Oklahoma Eagle: What strategic partnerships has Chase established with North Tulsa community organizations and what success have you experienced?
Ashley Townsend: When we partner with organizations like Greenwood Rising, it’s our goal to be there and to be a part of the solution. We bring programs to the public like “The Legacy of Black Banks in America” event that we had recently.
We have unique relationships with each organization that we partner with, but our goal is to serve the people that are associated with those organizations in meaningful ways. I have the opportunity to teach free financial health workshops and host events with these partners at their locations that are directly benefiting their members (and customers). Our sessions are safe and informative, and people always leave feeling empowered to use their newly found financial knowledge to change their lives.
The Oklahoma Eagle: How does Chase encourage and respond to feedback from residents of the North Tulsa community?
Ashley Townsend: There are many ways we receive feedback from the community. Our bankers and employees are active in the community and serve on some of Tulsa’s most amazing boards. I currently serve on five boards in Tulsa myself. Through this work I am able to stay connected and informed on the economic needs of the community. Also, after each workshop I always ask the attendees to complete a survey to provide feedback and receive the community’s perspective. (She is currently a member of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity, Iron Gate, Tulsa Community College Foundation, Tulsa Regional Chamber (advisory board member), and Volunteers of America.)
The Oklahoma Eagle: You shared about the goals and objectives overall for Chase and your office. Over the next eight months or for the remainder of the year, what additional goals are you prioritizing?
Ashley Townsend: Well, I’d say personally, I’m a new mom. My child is almost one years old. Accomplishing that and being a working mom is definitely new. I love every minute of it. Professionally, I would say I look to continue doing this work, and broadening (our work) for new partners, and being more visible as I can be to get the information out to people. (I want) to put (the information) out and have other organizations share it with their communities and their members. The free information (offered in the workshops) includes resources that weren’t taught in school. I encourage individuals to grow your business network and other networking opportunities.
After the workshops, we have participants to complete surveys to learn what they want to learn more about and to receive feedback from them. I refer them to our bankers for more information.
The Oklahoma Eagle: How does Chase assist customers with data privacy and protection?
Ashley Townsend: Honestly, the scams are always mind blowing. On Chase’s website, our customers can stay informed about the scams reported to them or that have been experienced by our customers. We will send a letter to you, or we will call you. You will have an actual number that you can call instead of clicking on links. The biggest, biggest thing that people will do is to click on a link. The email looks real, the logo looks real, but if you sometimes have to look really closely, there is going to be some type of difference. Whether the letters look off, or you know (some letters) are lowercase and uppercase. It could be something that you are just glancing at it and sometimes you just don’t see the differences right away in the email. I recommend that you double check…just double check to the best that you can before you commit to sending anything to anyone.
The Oklahoma Eagle: Can you share past and upcoming projects the bank is supporting or investing in the community?
Ashley Townsend: JPMorgan Chase has invested $940,000 to support TEDC (Tulsa Economic Development Corporation) since 2019 with the goal of addressing wealth disparities and creating a more equitable business environment across the region. TEDC’s Care Program is an exciting new financial education program offered for low-income entrepreneurs who can’t get small business loans. The program will heavily impact residents in the Tulsa community with low credit scores through personal financial management courses, credit score accountability, mentors, and entrepreneurship curriculum. This program is expected to serve 300 aspiring small business owners over two years. This is one example of an investment we have made locally, but there have been others and there are more to come.
The Oklahoma Eagle: Is there anything additional that can be shared with our readers (i.e., internships for high school and college students, etc.)?
Ashley Townsend: Yes, I would love for you all to share these free resources with your readers. I have even taught from kindergarten and to older adults. We have scam workshops to teach individuals how to avoid scams.
I am hosting two free financial health workshops at the 61st and Lewis Chase branch location (6140 S. Lewis Ave.) in April. On April 11 at 1 p.m., I am hosting a budget and savings workshop where we will discuss the best ways to budget and save your money to get on the road to creating generational wealth and knowledge. And on April 19 at 1 p.m., we will be discussing all things credit! How to build and manage your credit. I don’t talk about products and services of the bank. If someone wants to learn more about products and services, then I will refer him/her to a banker at the closest branch to them. Again, all these events are free to the community!
Townsend, a native of the Chicago, Ill., area, is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She has been living in Tulsa for 15 years.
She is married to Jonathan Townsend and has one child – Amara.
For more information, contact ashley.townsend@chase.com.
