iCARE™

"Our goal is to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace where individuals are valued, feel free to express themselves, are empowered to succeed, to grow both personally and professionally and achieve fulfillment."

Through our iCARE™ ("Inclusive Community of Advocacy, Respect and Equality") initiative, we have launched a number of programs intended to foster a culture that promotes social justice, equal access, community development and opportunity. Employees are encouraged to participate in interactive events, cultural celebrations, enterprise-wide mentorship programs and multiple volunteer opportunities.

Our iCARE™ Council consisting of 15 employees, with diverse backgrounds across different divisions in our organization, oversees the continued evolution of our iCARE™ program. The Bank launched the role of iCARE™ Ambassadors in 2022, consisting of 17 employees throughout the organization to serve and lead as liaisons between iCARE™ program and their business units to expand and promote engagement in iCARE™ initiatives.

BankUnited champions a culture of giving back, encouraging employees to engage in volunteerism and community service. In 2023, BankUnited employees collectively dedicated 3,500 volunteer hours across 128 organizations, including senior leaders of the Bank serving on 23 Boards of non-profit organizations to support the betterment of our communities. We offer diversity and inclusion training to all of our employees and employees are given paid time to participate in volunteer opportunities in their communities and communities we serve.

Cultural Celebrations are highlighted to help promote inclusion, tolerance and respect throughout our organization in order to ensure that our team members feel valued.

Mentoring and leadership training programs further career development by providing our employees opportunity to reach their full potential so we can reach ours. In 2023, 280 employees enrolled in the five mentoring programs listed below and a total of 1,247 mentoring hours were reported. Our employees rated their overall mentorship program satisfaction with a score of 4.7 stars out of 5 stars.

• College Intern Mentorship Program
• Rising Leaders Mentorship Program
• Professional Development Program
• Situational Leadership Program
• EXCELerate Program
• Toastmasters Program

ACDS and Make-A-Wish: Supporting organizations focused on children, youth, and families facing various challenges, including disabilities and critical illnesses.

Overtown Youth Center (OYC): In alignment with our dedication to education and community empowerment, the iCARE^TM program is the primary contributor towards the development of a STEM lab in OYC’s new facility, facilitating access to cutting-edge educational resources. We bolstered career development opportunities for college students actively enrolled in OYC’s programming by offering internships and scholarships. Additionally, BankUnited employees volunteered during Thanksgiving to distribute meals and donated toys during the holiday season. OYC’s comprehensive youth development programs, spanning from kindergartners to 25-year-olds, align closely with our values of equity and community empowerment by delivering resources to some of the most underserved neighborhoods in South Florida.

Adopt A Neighborhood: Launched in Liberty City, Florida, the goal of this initiative is to make a positive impact on the community by providing support services driven by the Bank and its partner organizations. Our main focus is to provide the community with the resources it needs to thrive and to make a tangible impact on the lives of its residents. We look to envelope the neighborhood wholeheartedly through the following efforts:

* Heirs’ Property is family-owned land that is jointly owned by descendants of a deceased person whose estate did not clear probate. The descendants, or heirs, have the right to use the property, but they do not have a clear or marketable title to the property since the estate issues remain unresolved. U.S. Department of Agriculture

 

Community Drives: Organizing drives for hygiene kits, back-to-school supplies, food donations, and holiday toys to assist those in need.

Thanksgiving Food Drive: Each Thanksgiving our employees come together to provide food donations as part of our Thanksgiving Food Drive. In 2023, we donated approximately 125,000 meals to our local communities through 16 non-profit partners and food banks.

iCARE^TM Ventures: Offering assistance and resources to women and minority owned businesses, promoting entrepreneurship and small business growth in our community. 

NY Entrepreneurship Initiative: Partnering with Medgar Evers College, we developed and sponsored a workforce development program focused on education New York City youth, GED and college students on business and entrepreneurship.

Scholarship/Summer Internship Program: Education stands as a fundamental pillar of the iCARE™ program. The iCARE™ scholarship was established to help remove economic and career development barriers for low to moderate income students seeking to expand their professional development opportunities and securing financial support. In addition to receiving the scholarship award for two academic years, selected scholars have the opportunity to intern at the bank for 10 weeks. Since the inception of our program, 109 high school and college students have participated, and 37 participants have been hired on to various roles at the bank.

Six participating colleges and universities: Florida International University (FIU), Florida Memorial University (FMU), Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), Miami Dade College (MDC), Medgar Evers College, and Farmingdale State College (FSC).

ATOM PinkTank: A six-month leadership, mentorship, and research development program to empower female students pursuing STEM careers. In partnership with FIU College of Business’ Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, PinkTank participants receive weekly guidance and mentorship by BankUnited employees throughout the research and competition stage. Students connect with BankUnited professionals of all levels & disciplines and get the chance to win a scholarship that can be applied toward their FIU tuition.

Since inception of this initiative in 2020, 46 students have completed the program and 20 new students have been selected for the 2023 - 2024 cohort. To date, BankUnited has hired 7 female students and garnered participation of over 55 BankUnited employees representing 20 departments across the Bank.

Through these initiatives and partnerships, BankUnited remains steadfast in our commitment to fostering inclusive and vibrant communities across our footprint.