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Amerant Bank Earns Lender of the Year Award From U.S. Small Business Administration

The Coral Gables-based financial institution is the largest community bank headquartered in Florida

Amerant Bank was selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) ’s 2023 Export Lender of the Year Award as one of the top lenders committed to increasing access to capital for small businesses entering the global marketplace. Selected by Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA, the Export Lender of the Year Awards recognizes excellence in export financing and highlights the accomplishments of lenders in delivering SBA’s international finance programs to small businesses to help companies develop new markets, finance export transactions and expand capacity to meet overseas demand.  

“At Amerant Bank, we are committed to helping provide access to capital to small business exporters in our markets,” Yvonne Boucugnani says, Head of SBA Lending at Amerant Bank. “With locations in markets that serve as two of the biggest international hubs in the U.S., our team members are experts at understanding local exporters’ needs, including purchase order financing, asset-based facilities, and international trade loans. By working together with the local SBA Export Offices, we are able to provide our customers the solutions they need to expand their export markets and increase job opportunities.”  

Amerant Bank’s growing SBA department placed the export loan programs as a central part of its strategy, with export loans accounting for more than half of their commitments. In 2022, Amerant Bank provided more than $20 million in financing support to small business exporters using the EWCP and Export Express programs. With strong growth under the EWCP program, Amerant applied for delegated authority in 2023.  

“We are honored to recognize Regions Bank, Amerant Bank, and Berkshire Bank with the SBA’s Export Lender Awards for 2023,” Gabriel Esparza says, SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade. Access to capital is key for any business engaged in international trade. The export financing provided by our lending partners is crucial to bridging the trade finance gap and allowing American small businesses to open new markets. Small businesses engaged in international trade grow faster, pay higher wages, and have greater economic stability when compared to non-exporters. We are proud of the role each of these award-winning lending partners plays in supporting export activity.” 

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.