ARVADA, Colo. – Safe Harbor Private Banking, a business banking subsidiary of Partner Colorado Credit Union that provides financial services to the underserved cannabis industry in Colorado, hosted its first Member Appreciation Gala at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.
Attended by more than 300 private banking members, industry influencers and guests, Partner Colorado said the event celebrated its first year success in serving the needs of the cannabis industry, which has struggled to get financial services in the wake of the legalization of marijuana in the state. The gala also spotlighted the cooperation and commitment of cannabis companies and legislators working together with Partner Colorado Credit Union to solve a banking problem and keep a community safe, PCCU said.
“Colorado had a cash management and community safety problem,” Partner Colorado Credit Union CEO Sundie Seefried told the gathering, “and Partner Colorado Credit Union, now yourcredit union, a community focused, member-owned cooperative stepped up to the plate to solve that problem and improve safety. Because that’s what credit unions do.”
Seefried thanked Safe Harbor Private Banking members for their “cooperation and transparency” and the “industry education” that led to a successful program.
Approximately 30 legislators and state officials were also in attendance, as well as Congressmen Perlmutter and Polis, who both addressed the group.
The program closed with speaker Hugh Hempel, a healthcare “advocist” and father to identical twins with a rare and fatal disease referred to as Childhood Alzheimers. Hempel spoke about the journey to find helpful therapies, which led his family to cannabis medicines.