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Jose Abreu
Assistant Vice President, Relationship Manager
Assistant Vice President, Relationship Manager
Jose is a business management professional with over 15 years of experience in business development, relationship, and project management across different industries in Chile, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and the United States. Jose joined Eastern Bank in 2017 as part of the consumer banking/retail team and later transitioned to the business banking team to support the small business ecosystem in Eastern’s footprint.
Jose is an active member of several Eastern employee resource groups that support communities including LGBTQIA+, young professionals, Latinos, and persons with disabilities. He serves as a mentor/coach for small business entrepreneurs and member of the Board of Advisors at Entrepreneurship for All - Merrimack Valley and Lynn, a Board Member for Daydreaming Organization, and Director of Memberships at the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Boston. Jose is also an active member of Business Networking International in South Boston and serves as a member of the Alumni Board for AIESEC International. Open configuration options
What was your first experience with a small business?
My first experience with a small business was in my late teens, when one of my sisters started her nail salon in the Dominican Republic. I watched her work against the odds by managing a business without having a bachelor’s degree. She was driven by passion and an artistry she knew better than anyone: how to make others feel pretty, confident, and empowered. Witnessing firsthand all the changes and preparation she had to undertake to begin and become profitable made me realize I wanted to support the small business ecosystem and elevate others so they can thrive and provide for their loved ones, just like my sister did.
What does Equity Alliance for Business mean to you?
Equity Alliance for Business represents a chance for me to bring in help tailored specifically to meet our women and minority business owners’ needs as well as to deliver upon their expectations for a quality banking experience.
What excites you about Equity Alliance for Business?
The game changing opportunity it will bring to our communities. We are not just doing a good thing, but the right and smart thing by helping our small businesses prosper.
What’s a favorite story involving a small business?
It involves one of my most valued customers, who owns an asset management firm in Boston. In 2018, after I was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager, he approached me for financial assistance to grow the business he started the year prior. He heard about Eastern Bank but had no relationship with us. When I heard his business plan, I immediately believed in his vision. We started to explore alternative financing options, and as a result he moved all his personal and business banking relationships to Eastern. The alternative approach ended up working, and I’m happy to say he has since been able to grow his business, despite the global pandemic, and solidify his firm. He later emailed me with these words: “Ever since I met you many years ago, you have impressed me. I follow your career on LinkedIn and continue to see you move forward. I am proud of everything you have accomplished.” I credit his trust and appreciation as the reason we were able to connect. That experience has taught me relationships matter and we need to think outside the box to become true connectors and change agents if we want our small businesses to thrive in this fast-changing economy.
“Small business” means to me...
Community development!