# Millennium Bank Grand Opening 9.30.26 - Date: September 30, 2026 - Type: Video - Length: 26:26 - Topic: Openings and groundbreakings - Video: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neV1OtOIFxY) - Transcript: Machine transcription, 3,677 words ([text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/youtube/neV1OtOIFxY.txt)) - Mayor: [Brandon Johnson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor) ## Chapters - [0:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=0) Event preparation - [2:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=160) Bank opening remarks - [8:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=483) Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks - [11:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=714) Board member perspective - [15:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=915) Community member testimonial - [18:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1108) Alderwoman Nicole Lee - [21:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1261) County commissioner speech - [22:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1363) Closing remarks and reception ## Description Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the Millennium Bank Grand Opening. ## Transcript [0:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=14) This is my mother. This is my mother. Hi, husband 86. Hi. This is the mayor. This is the mayor. This is the mayor. This is the mayor. This is my father. You've done well. It looks very sharp today. You want to borrow it? [0:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=44) Mr. Mayor, look at his shoes. Oh, man. He's almost done. How are you? Congratulations. Thank you. I'm here. Mayor, Edmar. Nice to see you, Ron. Can we hear some photos here? Oh, wow. I love it. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [1:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=75) Yeah. Yeah. Alright. Yes. There we go. All right. All right. Okay. On this backyard. It's good. The rain basically stopped right there. Yeah. Can we give one more, an accurate answer? [1:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=106) Oh, that's right, yeah. That's a joke. That's a joke. That's a joke. That's a joke. That's a joke. That's a joke. Here, why don't you put that one in the photo? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, there we go. That's a joke for you. That's very good. Yeah. All right, here. Thank you. Thank you. All right, we'll say a few words. I'll introduce y'all to you. [2:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=137) Yeah, I'm going to move the podium back, and then we will take a few words. Thank you. Yeah, we can a little bit. Right here. Excellent. Thank you all for bearing with our photo session. We really appreciate it. Well, I'll kick it off. [2:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=167) First of all, dear Bridgeport community, honored guests, friends, staff, and clients of Millennium Bank, we are so excited to welcome you here today to the grand reopening of our branch here in the amazing Bridgeport community. My name is Himal Agarwal, and I am one of the board members [3:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=197) and son of the bank's founder, Mothi Agarwal, who is here with us today. For those of you who are not familiar with our bank, we were founded in 2007 to help small businesses grow, particularly those that were minority-owned. Over the past nearly 20 years, we have grown to be nearly $1 billion in assets under management across three branches and one of the largest banks serving the city of Chicago. [3:49](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=229) As one of only six minority-owned banks in the state out of 350 and one of only 150 minority-owned banks in the nation out of 4,300, we are fully committed to making sure that diverse communities like this one here in Bridgeport have access to capital and that small businesses of all types can thrive here in the city of Chicago. Over the past decade, we have remained a top five SBA lender in the state of Illinois, [4:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=263) funding $350 million in SBA loans, primarily to minority borrowers. Last year, we were looking to find a physical space here in the city of Chicago because so much of our customer base is within the city limits, and we were looking for a new physical branch location. So we had the opportunity to acquire Pulaski Savings Bank, which is the bank that occupied this building prior to us. Pulaski had a single location, but they were founded many years ago in 1890. [4:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=299) So banking has been in this neighborhood for many, many years, and there's a lot of history inside the walls of this building. Over the course of the past year, we have invested heavily in both the interiors as well as the exterior of this building. We've invested in the staff, created new jobs, and invested heavily in the new operations. And we are thrilled to fully reopen and be ready for the Bridgeport community as well as the city of Chicago more broadly. [5:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=330) As you will see along the other exterior wall of this building, the southern wall, we have just completed a 120-foot mural installation by artist Jeff Zimmerman. So while we are reopening the doors of the bank, we're also celebrating this official unveiling of this bureau. The Bridgeport community, as many of you know, [6:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=361) is filled with art galleries, creative spaces, and is really known for its artistic community. So we are so excited to share this incredible piece of work with the neighborhood. So in closing, I just want to say we greatly appreciate all of you taking the time to be here on such a rainy Chicago day, But things are looking up in Chicago. We have at least one team winning in the playoffs right now. And the Bears had a pretty good Monday night, I'd say. [6:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=395) But, no, we really appreciate your time. And I would really like to sincerely thank our branch manager, Ignacio, and our head of marketing, Vicky, for executing this beautiful event today. I'd also like to thank our very distinguished guests here, Alderman Nicole Lee. Cook County Commissioner John Daly, State Rep. Teresa Ma, and Samir Mayaker and Ed Mars for also being here to support this grand reopening. [7:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=428) But, of course, we are so thrilled to have Mayor Brandon Johnson with us here today to share in this milestone. The mayor has been a strong supporter of local and community banking, and one of his quotes said that strong neighborhoods are built on strong local businesses, and those businesses need access to capital and financial partners who believe in their potential. [7:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=460) He has also been very vocal about the importance of the creative economy and the importance of art and culture to a city's economic vibrancy and growth. So I'm very happy to stand alongside him today to support both local businesses and the local art scene here in Bridgeport. Mr. Mayor, we are so honored to have you, and we'd love to invite you to say a few words. Thank you. [8:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=491) Well, thank you so much, Himmel, for that introduction and for your leadership. Well, good, good, is it afternoon yet? Okay, good afternoon, everyone. All right, it is great to be here in Bridgeport to celebrate this important investment to this neighborhood. And I knew what neighborhood I was in because I saw the bartender with that socks jersey on. And, you know, I know him knows that I'm a Cubs fan, but today I'm a Chicago fan. And wouldn't it be great to have a red line rivalry with both the Cubs and the Sox and the World Series? [8:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=526) So, you know, the Sox, you have an entire pope that's rooting for you. So we're going to have to keep the faith for our Northside team as well. I do want to give a special thanks to Alderwoman Nicole Lee, my former colleague, Cook County Commissioner John Daly, State Representative Teresa Ma of the Bridgeport Business Community, and how about it one more time for this incredible artist, Mr. Jeff Zimmerman. Thank you for your creativity. and really everyone who helped bring this branch back. [9:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=560) I also want to thank, again, all the business leaders and community leaders that are here today. I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Argoa family, Himmel, Thomas, and the entire Millennium Bank team. Today's opening is truly an investment in Bridgeport and Chicago's neighborhood businesses. This building has been a part of the financial life of this neighborhood for generations. And reopening it is not just about a renovated bank branch. [9:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=593) It's about keeping a trusted place where residents, entrepreneurs, and small businesses can build relationships and get access to capital. And we have a strong and vibrant small business community that has greatly contributed to the fabric and growth and the soul of Chicago. And if we want our small businesses to continue to succeed, they need banks that actually know their customers, understand their neighborhoods and are willing to work with entrepreneurs and all of those to make sure that our city continues to grow. [10:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=627) And that is why I'm so proud of the work being done by Millennium Bank. And their commitment to minority-owned and locally-owned businesses lines up with my administration's vision and commitment to making sure that growth reaches every neighborhood and that Chicago's entrepreneurs have what they need to start, stay, and grow right here. This renovation, the new mural, and today's reopening are real signs of confidence in Bridgeport and in our small business community. I look forward to seeing Millennium Bank deepen its roots here and finance the next generation of Chicago businesses. [11:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=662) Let's continue to build a better together. Let's continue to build and celebrate one another. And let's allow for more groundbreakings and more ribbon cuttings like this to take place. And let's continue to create a city that works for working people and where people can grow old and watch their families grow and thrive. Thank you all. God bless the greatest city in the world. And let's get some wins tonight. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We greatly appreciate your presence here. [11:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=712) We will continue with the program. So I am thrilled that Samir Mayaker, a close friend and a board member, is here to share a few words. Samir joined Millennium Bank's board several years ago, and he had pushed us to really think about a physical branch location in the city of Chicago. And now we're here and we've done it. So, Samir, thank you so much for all your feedback, your guidance, and shepherding us into the city. Samir Mayaker. [12:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=746) Okay, so following the mayor of the city is not an easy job. But good afternoon, everybody. And I'm very proud to be affiliated with Millennium Bank. I'm a fellow Southsider, so it is a fact that I said I'm only going to join your board if we have a presence here in the city. And Himal and the whole family have delivered by opening this today. I want to tell you why I'm very proud to be involved with this institution. The first reason is the Agarwal family. If you have gotten to know Moti and Himal and the rest of the family, [12:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=777) you would understand that they are truly unique in their passion for small businesses. This bank got its start because the family ran a small business and had friction with banks. And they said, well, you know what, we're just going to start our own. And that is true entrepreneurial spirit. So, you know, these are not just some, like, Wall Street bankers. They're here to help communities because they have run businesses themselves. The second reason I'm proud to be involved with this institution is that small businesses are its focus. [13:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=808) And, in fact, over 60% to 70% of the businesses that we lend to are minority-owned, and most banks can't say that. So, again, this is not a big Wall Street bank. This is a bank focused on all of you in this corridor, and that is rare, because this bank understands, and you'll hear about this from Ed Mars in a minute, that small businesses are the heart and soul of a community. We need businesses like the ones here on Morgan Street or Halstead to thrive, and this neighborhood will thrive when the businesses thrive, and you heard that from the mayor. [13:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=839) The third reason I'm proud to be affiliated with the institution is that it's actually going to help address what is this giant capital gap in our neighborhoods. So there was a report put out many years ago by the Urban Institute and it quantified the gap of investment in Chicago between the north side and the south and the west side and this is an issue I've spent years working on. And that gap is 400%. There's 400% more investment per household on the north side than here on the south side and on the west side. [14:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=871) And having a bank here on the south side lending the businesses here is going to help address that gap. And only then can the city live up to its true potential. We know that Chicago is only as strong as all of its neighborhoods. And by having this branch here focused on our neighborhoods, we're going to do our part to help making sure that we solve that capital gap. That's what the team here is going to wake up and think about every day. So I'm very proud to be on the board of this bank and couldn't be more thrilled that we are here on the south side opening a branch to do our part to address the challenges and the opportunities that Chicago businesses face. [15:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=907) So thank you very much and I will pass it back to Himmel. I'd like to welcome one of our newest bank customers, Ed Mars. Hey, everybody. I'm really excited to be invited to this event today, to be part of a community, the civic community of our political leaders that we have behind us. Seeing the mayor here, what a baller, and hanging out with the family is like really a treat. [15:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=940) My name's Ed Marszewski, or Marszewski, depending on how Polish you are. Our family's been here for a while in the neighborhood. My mother, Maria, was the person who started Maria's Bar up the block. Out of that business, we started Mars Community Brewing, which is down the road at 36th and Iron Street. We also have a space across the street, which is the headquarters for our nonprofit Public Media Institute, which does publications, exhibitions, festivals, and works with artists from around the country and, of course, locally. [16:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=973) One of the greatest things about this neighborhood, Bridgeport, is that when I finally moved here, gosh, in the late 90s or something, you could sense that you could do whatever you want in the city of Chicago, especially in a place like Bridgeport, because we had leaders who were part of the local government who wanted to help us grow a business, keep your business going, change your business, and bring culture and art to this neighborhood. What's also exciting is that you are able to meet the neighborhoods and understand how things work. And one of the things about the previous bank that was here, [16:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1005) Even though it was a local bank that's been here for a century, it wasn't very welcome to people like me. I'm not going to go into it, but what happened one day is I was at a bar probably, and I saw him and probably you, and I didn't realize you guys were working together. And they're like, oh, yeah, you've got to meet our family. Our family might be opening up a branch in Bridgeport. And I'm like, where? Like, oh, we're taking over the Pulaski Bank. I'm like, you've got to be kidding me. That's incredible. Because I found out about this family bank, a bank owned by minorities in Chicago. [17:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1036) What a weird thing to have happen anywhere, in any city. An incredible thing, actually, to have a community of brown people running the banks, right? Because most of us here are banking with Chase and the other crappy banks that are multinational corporations that don't provide any interest on any of our accounts. Am I correct? That's right. I would suggest that you start banking here, especially if you're a small business person. I suggest that you actually find ways of supporting small businesses like this bank everywhere you can. But the most amazing thing here is that we met this family and they explained to us what they could do for our nonprofit to help us generate some more income. [17:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1073) It blew our minds. Finally, someone locally, someone who cares about what we're doing as artists, as small businesses, somebody who wanted to incorporate art in their business a family that actually wants to grow lending to our communities it truly is a miracle and it's one of the best things that happened to morgan street since i've been in the city of chicago i want to thank the family for being here i want to thank all of you for just being ballers and being part of this magical moment thanks my name is avani underwall and i've recently started working with our family bank [18:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1114) it's been quite an incredible endeavor to to really work with local community members and really get to know the businesses here and to incorporate art into our kind of scope in our world in that process I've gotten to know a an incredible woman as well and I'd like to introduce Alderwoman Nicole Lee Wow I [19:05](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1145) didn't know I was gonna get such a great introduction thank you out me it was really indeed a pleasure to get to sit down and get to know of me better um oh slouchy microphone stand up straight sir okay um i couldn't be more proud like i want to echo all of the sentiments i i hate to have to follow ed marzewski i mean like you know i'm not a baller like he is but i'm going to give it a shot um the 11th ward today is the first asian majority ward in the city of chicago [19:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1175) So I think it's very apropos that the first branch in the city for Millennium Bank. An Asian-American owned business and run bank is right here in Bridgeport in the 11th Ward. Thank you so much for investing in our community. Anybody that's willing to open a business anytime, anywhere in the 11th Ward, I'm always really grateful because it is not easy to run a business. For all of you small business owners who are here, let me hear you. Is it easy in the city of Chicago? [20:05](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1205) No. No. Yeah, it's not. but banks like Millennium are here for our community and here for small business so thank you for choosing Bridgeport to invest in to the 11th Ward because it's not easy I'm just ever grateful because in this day and age it's not easy when I first heard about the the move to put the mural on I was like that's just perfect because it does so connect to this community especially this corridor that you're in right here on Morgan Street there's so much history [20:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1238) here, and I'm honored that you guys have chosen to build the next chapter of your bank right here. So on behalf of the residents of the 11th Ward, just thank you so much for your investment. I wish you all of the best. I think there's going to be nothing but good things ahead, especially for your bank and for our community. Thanks very much. Thank you, Nicole. At this time, I wanted to introduce Cook County Commissioner John Daly. [21:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1269) Yeah. Thank you very much. It is indeed an honor for me to join you this afternoon in welcoming this bank to this family. The family investment in your history reminds me of my family, of the commitment to this city. I want to thank the mayor for his attendance, Alderman Lee, and State Representative Theresa Mow. As the Alderwoman of this board, Theresa Mow is the State Rep. [21:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1299) We're represented in Springfield by State Senators Mattie Hender, Senator Cervantes, and Senator Celine Villanova, and Representative Erin Ortiz, and Sonya Harper. So a lot of women, a lot of diversity. And I'm proud to say, to welcome you, the mayor talked about, and Nicole mentioned, about the investment in small businesses. We know small businesses throughout the city, throughout this country, [22:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1331) are the backbone of community and economics. I welcome you. I look forward to working with you. And, Ed, I know you're always a strong voice whenever I hear you, whenever I met you the first time. It was an extremely loud voice, but you represent me. Extremely loud, especially my face. But when I wasn't there. But thank you. Thank you for your investment, and welcome. Thank you. [22:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1362) And finally, we're so excited to have State Rep. Teresa Ma come up and say a few words. Thank you very much, Hamel. And I'm State Representative Teresa Ma. I represent not only Bridgeport and Chinatown, but also Pilsen, McKinley Park, Brighton Park, and back of the yards. The vast majority of the people I represent are members of the immigrant community. And, you know, I grew up in an immigrant family that also was involved with that had a small business, the small business presence in my district is rather significant, immigrant small businesses for the most part. [23:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1412) And so it is truly amazing to have Millennium Bank choose our community to open their City of Chicago branch. And I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this event and also know that the immigrant community business folks that I represent will have the opportunity to benefit from the amazing services that are provided by this bank. [24:05](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1445) I really appreciate the investment in our community, the access to capital that folks would have, and the fact that we have bankers that understand the needs of our community members. Bridgeport is an amazing, thriving, diverse community. I couldn't be more proud to represent it in the Illinois legislature. [24:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1476) And we're seeing terrific improvements and investments every day. You know, this is just another reason why I am so proud to represent this community. Congratulations to the Agrawal family, the members of the board, and to the entire community for having this great new asset here in the neighborhood. Thank you very much. Wonderful. That concludes our formal program. [25:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1507) I'll just make a couple housekeeping announcements. we'd love to invite you inside where there will be desserts there's going to be food, bar, music please make sure you see the beautiful mural by Jeff Zimmerman he's right over there you can talk to him about his inspiration and talk to anyone here from the Millennium Bank family we'd love to learn more about what you're up to and so thank you, thank you very, very much DJ, if you'd like to play a little music we're going to formally cut the ribbon now [25:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY?t=1537) and then follow that up with the reception Thank you all. Sources and methods: [how we get and count this data](/about#methods) · [report an error](/about#corrections) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/neV1OtOIFxY · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. 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