Better Banking Blog
Press Release

Beneficial State Bank & Bancorp Board Member Surjit Chana recognized among '100 AAPI Board Members Making A Difference' by BoardProspects

May 15, 2024

Surjit Chana headshot

Beneficial State Bank & Bancorp Board Director Surjit Chana honored for his impactful leadership by BoardProspects.

OAKLAND, Calif., May 15, 2024 – Beneficial State Bank is pleased to announce that Board Director Surjit Chana has been named one of the "100 AAPI Board Members Making a Difference" by BoardProspects. With May marking Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this recognition highlights Chana's profound influence in leadership roles spanning technology, governance, finance, and social responsibility.

"We are incredibly proud of Surjit's recognition," said Randell Leach, CEO of Beneficial State Bank. "His dedication to good governance, social impact, values-based leadership, and using technology for good exemplifies Beneficial State Bank's mission of building an economy that works for everyone. Surjit is a great example of the values we strive to embody in our banking."

As a member of Beneficial State Bank and Bancorp Boards since 2022, Chana has become an integral partner in strategy, technology, digital transformation, marketing, and governance. He was a member of IBM's Global Senior Leadership Team for a decade, holding various influential roles, including Chief Operating Officer at IBM Digital, Chief Marketing, Communications, and CSR Officer at IBM Europe, and Vice President of Solutions, Strategy, and CMO of IBM's Systems Business.

It’s a privilege to serve alongside board members like Surjit Chana. Surjit’s exceptional thought leadership in human-centered design and emerging technologies, as well as his superlative experience, inform and empower our strategic priorities, which include serving the community, supporting environmental outcomes, and achieving long-term financial stability. He is revered by bankers and community alike.

Kat Taylor, Co-founder and Board Chair at Beneficial State Bank

Chana is currently focused on his Harvard Fellowship project on using technology for good, intergenerational poverty, and the impact of technology on leadership, strategy, governance, and operating model of organizations. He serves as chair of the Technology Committee and member of the Asset-Liability Committee (ALCO) for Beneficial State Bank’s Board. He is also a Director on the Board of Bancorp, Chair of the Board of Directors at Care for the Homeless, a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) Technology Committee, and a Director of his alma mater, the University of Surrey Foundation.

"I'm honored to be recognized alongside other distinguished Asian American and Pacific Islander board members," said Chana. “Thank you to BoardProspects for recognizing me, and thanks to the team at Beneficial State Bank and Bancorp who are working to build a more equitable banking system for all."

Beneficial State Bank Icon
About Beneficial State Bank

Beneficial State Bank (Beneficial State) is a state-chartered, federally insured bank with branches in California, Oregon, and Washington. Beneficial State serves the triple bottom line of people, planet, and prosperity for all, which involves serving its communities, supporting positive environmental outcomes, and achieving long-term financial sustainability. A unique ownership structure supports these strategic priorities: the bank’s capital is majority-owned by the nonprofit Beneficial State Foundation. This means its economic rights are fully aligned with, and permanently governed in, the public interest.

Beneficial State Bank is a founding signatory of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Banking, a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Fossil Free Certified, and one of the world’s top-rated Certified B Corporations.


Media Contact:
EMC Communications
BSBPress@EMCCommunications.com
(650) 455-9928

Bank Institution Icon

Choose a Bank that Invests in Tomorrow

Beneficial State Bank serves the triple-bottom-line of people, planet, and prosperity for all. That means prioritizing social justice and environmental sustainability. Our clients want to see their money put to good use – funding causes that defend our planet and build resiliency in our communities. Change your bank and help change the world.