We invite you to download our  2024 Corporate Citizenship and ESG Report. This report includes details on our approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs and metrics in our employer standards, community engagement, environmental policies and risk management practices. Here, we highlight our business resource groups (BRG) which help create a culture of inclusion and diversity at UMB.

What are BRGs?

Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are associate-led groups comprised of associates with common interests across UMB’s offices and locations. These groups are valuable resources to our business lines by enhancing associate engagement and professional development, providing insight to leaders, and embracing and building a more inclusive culture. The best part about our BRGs is that all associates are welcome in every group, regardless of their identity or affiliation. This has led to forging new relationships, business opportunities, nonprofit support, and more.

Involvement in a business resource group also provides associates with leadership development, project and change management opportunities, executive mentorship, community involvement, and networking with colleagues.

Our BRGs are focused on engaging the business, the community and associates, framed by each group’s unique perspective. All BRGs organize and participate in volunteer opportunities throughout the year as another way to support and strengthen connections.

A glimpse into each UMB BRG

Abilities

The mission of the Abilities BRG is to build awareness and create understanding that everyone has unique and valuable abilities. By identifying challenges and opportunities, we disable barriers and heighten awareness. Each year, this group has organized several community involvement opportunities across the country, such as volunteering with The Whole Person‡, as well as sessions on building mental resilience and how to effectively communicate with those who have developmental disabilities.

Abilities BRG chair Michael Garcia, Vice President, Branch Manager II shares his perspective:

I believe our differences are not obstacles to success; they are strengths that make our workplaces more innovative, resilient and inclusive. As a BRG, we want to leverage each individual’s talents and abilities, regardless of apparent or non-apparent challenges, to better serve our community. It’s my experience that being a part of a group such as this allows us to be an advocate for so many.

Asian American

The Asian American BRG’s mission is to cultivate awareness and understanding of issues of race, culture, gender, and ethnic identities in support of fostering an inclusive culture that engages and retains Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander talent.

This group hosts a Lunar New Year celebration, is active in the community and at UMB for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month in May.

Current chair, Yamini Valleru, Business Intelligence & Analytics Engineer II shared:

The BRGs are helping me to learn about different cultures and build connections across the organization. I am really enjoying my journey to professional growth within the Asian American BRG. I strongly recommend and encourage everyone to get involved in any of the BRGs

B-EPIC (Blacks for Empowering People Through Inclusion and Collaboration)

B-EPIC’s engages Black/African American associates and their allies to facilitate collaboration, unique perspectives, and inclusive dialogue across all aspects of UMB culture.

Over the past year, the group participated in many volunteer opportunities, along with JuneteenthKC as a first-time vendor, and hosted a special Juneteenth event in Kansas City for associates.

BRG Chair, Shawnte’ Shackelford, enterprise fraud prevention analyst, shares her perspective:

I joined the BRGs because I wanted to build connections across the organization, grow personally and professionally, and better understand other cultures within UMB. After attending a few virtual and in-person events, I gained the opportunity to network with associates from different cultural backgrounds and within departments outside of mine. I have seen firsthand how BRGs create space for people to feel seen, heard, and supported.

Pride

The Pride BRG aims to continue building a culture that embraces equality and creates an engaged workforce of LGBTQIA+ associates, clients and customers. In 2025, associates attended Pride events in multiple cities and the Pride group was named ERG of the Year from the Mid-America LGBT Chamber in Kansas City.

The Pride Chair, Chelsey Peitz, branch manager shares:

Being a part of the Pride BRG has always made me feel like UMB was saying to me that I was seen as a whole person, there was value to who I was and I mattered to UMB. Therefore, UMB will always matter to me. I also love how the BRGs provide community involvement opportunities. These are the moments I get to go out and demonstrate how incredibly proud I am to work for UMB. I love to wear the merchandise and tell everyone who will listen how this is the best place to be.

SOMOS

The SOMOS BRG works to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of UMB to recruit, retain and develop Hispanic/Latino talent, and develop client and local connections through community involvement. Somos is derived from the verb “ser” which means “to be”. Somos is the first-person plural verb form which means “we are.”

In 2025, the SOMOS BRG continued to strengthen relationships with several nonprofit partners, such as the Guadalupe Centers Inc., Mattie Rhodes, and the Hispanic Development Fund.

The SOMOS BRG chair, Heidi Lopez-Huezo, Securities Services Operations Analyst, shares about the impact of BRGs on her career:

UMB is about establishing and maintaining strong relationships, and the BRGs elevate that. BRGs help you build relationships with coworkers, establish relationships with people you wouldn’t have interacted with otherwise, strengthen relationships with clients, and engage with the community. Hispanic culture is very welcoming, and community is extremely important. We work best together, and the more united our network is, the more it elevates our worth for our communities.

Veterans Engagement Taskforce (VET)

The VET BRG offers engagement opportunities for UMB associates who are Veterans, military family members, or passionate about Veteran support. This group is also highly involved in volunteering with organizations that serve Veterans across UMB’s communities.

In addition to many educational and awareness events about the military and Veteran experiences, the BRG hosts Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations, and volunteers with organizations supporting people transitioning from military to civilian life, such as the Veteran’s Community Project.

BRG Chair Krysten Daniel assistant vice president, corporate trust relationship manager, shares her perspective:

UMB has given me volunteer hours to use toward my passion and has supported my team and I with events to support the Veteran Community. Our BRGs extend UMB’s approach to integrity—”treat folks like you want to be treated.” It’s an awesome feeling!

Women’s

The Women’s BRG strives to empower women, and their advocates. This BRG has undertaken several initiatives, including coffee chats with executives, women’s health education, mentorship and career growth guidance, and volunteering with organizations that uplift women in our communities.

BRG Chair, Sandra Kenly, Contracts Manager I explains the work of our Women’s group:

A purpose in my life is to inspire and empower women, and becoming chair of the Women’s BRG grants me the opportunity to walk in my purpose. Backed by a strong steering committee, I’m thrilled to continue to strengthen strategies that serve our associates, lines of business and communities with actions that will create a lasting effect across our footprint.

Young Professionals

The Young Professionals BRG works to improve UMB’s effectiveness and efficiency in educating, retaining and developing young talent, building a connection with the community, and ensuring young professionals’ voices are leveraged in business strategy.

The group regularly hosts social events and coffee events for networking, along with opportunities to hear from UMB leadership on topics of both personal and professional development.

Young Professionals BRG chair, Isaiah Artajona, Branch Manager, shared:

The Young Professionals BRG exists to make UMB stronger from the inside out. We create space for connection and belonging, and we turn that into development, collaboration, and community impact. When young professionals are supported and heard, our teams perform better, and our clients feel it.

Learn more about UMB’s culture by downloading the 2024 Corporate Citizenship and ESG Report.

To learn more about UMB and our connections to the communities we serve, visit our community involvement page and follow us on Facebook‡ and LinkedIn ‡.

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