How Banks Can Partner with Local Businesses with US Bank’s Vanessa Sancha, AVP, Business Access Advisor, US Bank
This season on Moneda Moves, we have been expanding how we talk about capital, because it’s not just about money. It’s also about power and access, across sectors.
Today, we’re talking about what it takes to gain access to one of the most traditional forms of capital: loans.
According to the Latino Business Action Network, the odds of loan approval from national banks are 60% lower for Latino-owned businesses in 2024. And for Latina-owned businesses, the gap is even wider — with just 39% average approval rates from both national and local banks.
That’s why voices like Vanessa Sancha matter. She is an Assistant Vice President and Bilingual Business Access Advisor for the Chicago/Milwaukee region of U.S. Bank, providing support in both Spanish and English. In her role, Vanessa helps bridge critical gaps in information, connections, and capital, which otherwise can limit growth and opportunity for small business owners.
A seasoned financial professional and community leader, Vanessa is driven by a mission to empower diverse business owners through access to capital and resources. Her financial services career spans over 16 years, including a notable tenure at PNC Bank, where she advanced through leadership roles in business banking and branch management.
Vanessa also served as a Relationship Manager at local CDFI, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), managing and underwriting a commercial portfolio. Her expertise lies in building strong client relationships and offering tailored guidance to help businesses thrive across diverse industries.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Vanessa is deeply committed to giving back. She serves on the board of the Wisconsin Veteran Business Alliance and the WWBIC loan committee. She has developed and led financial education programs for youth and adults through organizations like Journey House, WRTP, Milwaukee Christian Center, and Running Rebels, inspiring participants to achieve their goals and contributing to more equitable economic outcomes in her community.
She is committed to advancing opportunities for underserved communities and helping build a more inclusive economy where every entrepreneur can succeed. When she’s not connecting with business leaders or volunteering, Vanessa enjoys spending time with her daughter, cheering her on at basketball and volleyball games.
In this week’s episode, we’re talking about how banks can partner with local businesses and open the door to opportunities that have historically been closed to them. Financial capital, like loans, offers local businesses the chance to grow and create more financial stability for the community. With these programs, big banks are reaching out to entrepreneurs to offer guidance, help them navigate the financial challenges they’re facing, and help them increase their chances of getting loans. Tune in to hear more about these programs and how local entrepreneurs can grow their businesses through financial capital.
Follow Vanessa on Instagram @_v.s.anabel_ and on her LinkedIn.
Check out the US Bank’s Access Commitment here!
Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves
Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro
Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.
