Treasury Bank Mentor-Protégé Program

The Mission

To pair large and small banks to cultivate a broader pool of financial institutions that have the ability, skills, and knowledge to provide services on behalf of Treasury, and support preserving these small banks through the mentorship of private sector business growth and development programs.

The Concept

The Treasury Bank Mentor Protégé Program was established to expand the pool of financial institutions that could serve as financial agents. In this light, the goal is to bring together large banks that serve as Financial Agents to Treasury or are industry leaders as mentors to create alliances with talented, capable small banks and financial institutions as protégés to:

• prepare them to perform as a financial agent or to improve the capacity to provide services to Treasury customers
• expand the options available to Fiscal Service to execute programs and
• provide leadership and program development

Background

• There are a small number of FIs who provide services to BFS as designated financial agents (FAs). BFS uses FAs to provide financial services focusing on collections, securities, and payment transactions such as checks, wires, ACH, and payment cards. We also engage FAs to provide innovation, customer support, data management, analytics, and asset management. To ensure the U.S. Government manages finances and resources well, it is important to identify a full and capable pool of FAs from large and small banks and other financial institutions.

Guiding Principles

• Voluntary Participation - Under the TBMPP, mentor FAs voluntarily help protégé FIs in growing their businesses and competing for FA opportunities. Protégés volunteer to participate in the program and are responsive to the mentor.
• Foster New Partnerships - Greater participation in FASPs by small FIs to expand the base of FIs that respond to solicitations or are in responses to solicitations.
• Start Proactive Efforts  - To engage the small FI network through organizations to establish relationships and platforms for regular information sharing. These organizations include: the National Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America, and the National Credit Union Association.  
• Growth Promotion - Access to knowledge training leading to professional growth by partnering with mentors in the banking industry.

The Role of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service will champion the TBMPP in several ways. BFS officials will:

• set up meetings between prospective mentors and protégés,
• communicate the basic tenets and principles of the program,
• conduct outreach and education to small banks and FIs,
• speak about the program to interested parties at various events,
• encourage small banks and FIs to participate in the TBMPP.