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James Malfregeot of BB&T is bringing big things for the future of banking and a big appetite for arts, culture, and food to Lancaster.
As BB&T and Suntrust recently announced a proposed merger of equals, which would result in the sixth-largest U.S. commercial bank based on assets and deposits, under the name Truist. The bank also announced a meaningful $60 billion Community Benefits Plan in partnership with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, which also allows the combined company to do even more for the communities in which its employees live and work, including Lancaster County.
Executive Producer Marc Robin and James discussing BB&T’s current Fulton Theatre sponsorship
Heading the Lancaster team at Truist is James Malfregeot, currently the Senior Vice President and Market President at BB&T. James and his wife, Kate, are avid Lancaster fans, living and loving all things local, especially the culture, arts, and food scene here. We sat down with James to find out why he enjoys his new home so much.
James and Kate enjoy shopping for local art at Red Raven Art Company and creating their own at Pottery Works in Downtown Lancaster.
How have you been able to fit in art appreciation in Lancaster during this busy time of the merger at the bank?
It’s hard to not experience the arts here in Lancaster. Visual arts abound on every street, from the murals to the galleries and museums we love to visit on First Fridays and on the weekends we have off together. My mother is an artist by trade and manages an art gallery in my hometown in West Virginia, so visiting Gallery Row reminds me of home and helps ground me back to my roots.
Have you been able to experience the theater scene in Lancaster?
Yes! BB&T has been very involved in sponsoring productions and events at Fulton Theatre. We were the mainstage production sponsor of both The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 2018 and Mamma Mia in 2019. Kate and I have enjoyed not only these productions but also the parties we’ve been able to attend as sponsors at the theater.
Last time we talked, we focused on your love of Lancaster’s food scene. Any new favorite places you can share?
The diversity of food from all over the world in our small city is something we’ve been really diving into lately. Central Market is full of so many possibilities for getting to explore the city’s diversity and we take full advantage of that, especially at lunch on Saturdays. It makes us so happy to be able to live in a small city where we can be a part of such a vibrant and diverse community. BB&T has an incredible commitment to diversity programs, and we’ve been able to meet some amazing people and sample fabulous cuisine through the bank’s partnerships with local organizations and events like the Indian Arts Gala, the South Asian Association of Lancaster, and SACA (Spanish American Civic Organization), just to name a few.
