BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Customers Bank was presented today with the prestigious FHLBank Pittsburgh Pillars of the Community Award in recognition of the bank’s commitment to community revitalization. The Pillars award is FHLBank’s highest organizational honor and is presented annually to select FHLBank members.

Customers Bank, headquartered in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, received the award at one of FHLBank’s regional member events. John Bendel, FHLBank Senior Director of Community Investment, spoke at the event about Customers Bank’s community achievements. Richard Ehst, President & COO, and Joseph Schupp, SVP/Community Development Officer, accepted the award on behalf of Customers Bank.

“Customers Bank is honored to receive the Pillars of the Community award from FHLBank Pittsburgh,” said Ehst. “The award acknowledges the good work that our team members have done across our footprint. This award is the result of the joint efforts of our Residential Mortgage, Affordable Housing, First Front Door Program, Small Business Lending and Commercial Lending teams.”

As part of the award, FHLBank presented a $1,000 check on Customers Bank’s behalf to Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, whose mission is to build and repair homes in partnership with families in need. An active member of the FHLBank cooperative, Customers Bank reserved more than half a million dollars in funding through FHLBank’s First Front Door product in 2017 alone, making it possible for more than 100 first-time homebuyers to realize their dream of homeownership.

Also in 2017, Customers Bank saw completion of phase one of the Diamond Park project, providing eight new homes to Habitat for Humanity families in Philadelphia. The project took advantage of a $650,000 grant from FHLBank Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing Program. Customers Bank also used FHLBank’s Banking On Business product in 2017 to help finance a number of small businesses.

“Customers Bank is committed to strengthening communities, and its support of first-time homebuyers, affordable housing and small businesses shows just how deep that commitment is,” said Winthrop Watson, FHLBank’s President and CEO. “We are proud to have Customers Bank as part of our membership cooperative.”

About Customers Bank

Customers Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company located in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, engaged in banking and related businesses through its bank subsidiary, Customers Bank. Customers Bank is a community-based, full-service bank with assets of approximately $10.8 billion at March 31, 2018. A member of the Federal Reserve System with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Customers Bank is an equal opportunity lender that provides a range of banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, individuals and families through offices in Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Jersey. Committed to fostering customer loyalty, Customers Bank uses a High Tech/High Touch strategy that includes use of industry-leading technology to provide customers better access to their money, as well as Single Point of Contact banking by appointment at customers’ homes or offices 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Customers Bank offers a continually expanding portfolio of loans to small businesses, multifamily projects, mortgage companies and consumers. Customers Bancorp, Inc. voting common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CUBI. Additional information about Customers Bancorp, Inc. can be found on the Company's website, www.customersbank.com.

About FHLBank Pittsburgh

As an intermediary between global capital markets and local lenders, FHLBank Pittsburgh provides readily available liquidity, as well as affordable housing and community development opportunities, to member financial institutions of all sizes in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Bank is one of 11 banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which was established by Congress in 1932 and serves as a reliable source of funds for housing, jobs and economic growth in all economic cycles. To learn more, visit www.fhlb-pgh.com.