Byline Bank has committed $15,000 to purchase gift cards this month from local restaurants in the Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) and Forest Park communities. Throughout the next couple of weeks Byline will be purchasing gift cards from 50 local restaurants in Oak Park and River Forest, as well as partnering with the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce in hopes of providing meaningful support to the restaurant industry during this difficult time. “Byline Bank is at it again! They came in and bought a number of gift cards from us,” said Rob Guenthner, co-owner of Kettlestrings Tavern, located in Oak Park. “We genuinely appreciate the support Byline has shown to us and other area restaurants.”
“This pandemic has impacted so many of our customers, especially our small businesses and independently owned restaurants,” said Susie Goldschmidt, Oak Park and River Forest Market President for Byline Bank. “These businesses play such an important role in the OPRF community, and we hope this simple act can help out during these winter months.”
Byline is privileged to be a part of the OPRF community and is proud to have contributed more than $90,000 in sponsorships and support to the area this year, alone. Also, earlier this year, Byline was able to provide $12.8 million in financing for affordable housing initiatives in the Oak Park and Austin areas, and was further able to provide $14.8 million* in Paycheck Protection Program loans to the OPRF community, during a critical time for many businesses, struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the efforts, Liz Holt, Executive Director of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce shared “It’s support like this from community partners like Byline Bank that will help our business community survive. The OPRF Chamber is thrilled to help Byline connect with restaurants, and retailers in Oak Park, River Forest and the surrounding communities.”
