nbkc bank’s Jackie Watts Honored by Westside Housing for Home Ownership Advocacy and Commitment to the KC Community

nbkc bank’s Jackie Watts Honored by Westside Housing for Home Ownership Advocacy and Commitment to the KC Community

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sept. 13, 2023)–Westside Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building robust, sustainable communities, announced that Jackie Watts, vice president and CRA mortgage loan officer at nbkc bank is the recipient of the 2023 Industry Partner Award. The award was presented at Westside Housing’s annual event on September 12, 2023, held at Boulevard Brewery. The award is given annually to an individual who embodies Westside Housing’s mission of rebuilding neighborhoods as safe, affordable, and healthy places for people to live, work and play. Watts also played an instrumental role in a credit building initiative that helps residents improve credit scores through rent reporting, as well as coaching them on down payment assistance options.

“For more than two decades, Jackie Watts has been a consistent and passionate advocate for home ownership in the neighborhoods we serve and throughout Kansas City,” said Gloria Fisher, Westside Housing Executive Director. “She is an outstanding partner to our organization and others like it, and to homebuyers—including first-time buyers–in our city.”

Watts, who joined nbkc in 2022, has been involved in the Kansas City housing market for 25 years, much of it focusing on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which encourages financial institutions to meet the credit needs of communities in which they do business. She is also a board member of Westside Housing and regularly works with first time homebuyers to educate and counsel them on home ownership. nbkc bank prides itself on building relationships and providing personalized products and services to meet the needs of the greater Kansas City area community.

“I’m honored to receive this award, especially because partnerships are so critical to expanding home ownership,” Watts said. “I’m grateful to be able to work with Westside Housing and its peer organizations, as well as homebuyers and community leaders, to promote and broaden home ownership in Kansas City.”

Michael Bartkoski, nbkc bank president and CEO, recognized Jackie and the significance of the award. “Communities share common culture and heritage that shape our sense of belonging. Local banks play an important role in community building. What makes Jackie’s work so special is that she is the expert in understanding our neighbors’ housing needs, how their belonging to a community defines them and she can work out a plan to help them get there.”

About nbkc bank

Named the strongest large bank in the Kansas City area¹, nbkc is a diversified banking company known for combining intuitive technology and personal support to create exceptional client experiences. We offer online mortgage and consumer banking nationally; community and commercial banking throughout our home region of Kansas City; and banking as a service to fintech companies across the U.S. Formed in 1999, nbkc continues to pursue its mission of leading the industry to simpler and more transparent banking.

About Westside Housing Organization

Westside Housing Organization is a 50-year-old 501(c)3 community development organization. Its mission is to engage residents and key stakeholders in rebuilding neighborhoods as safe, affordable, and healthy places for people to live, work and play. In fulfilling its mission, Westside Housing works at the intersection of housing, health, energy and equity.

¹  From an analysis published on April 17, 2023, by the Kansas City Business Journal, comparing all banks with a presence in Kansas City and assets of $1 billion or more. The study used 2022 year-end data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to evaluate banks on eight metrics which, together, reflect banks’ financial wherewithal.

Media Contact

Melissa Beltrame: 816-965-1417, Melissa.Beltrame@nbkc.com