A Hometown Bank Heeds a Call to Serve Its Islamic Clients

by Samuel G. Freedman
New York Times
March 6, 2009

http://www.islamist-watch.org/1470/a-hometown-bank-heeds-a-call-to-serve-its-islamic

Excerpt:

Until a stranger without an appointment showed up one day in late 2001, Stephen L. Ranzini was feeling rather pleased with himself. University Bank here, which he led as president, had just won a national award for community service. The honor attested to Mr. Ranzini's success in working with local black ministers and a nonprofit agency to increase home-ownership in African-American neighborhoods.

Then, disturbing the aura of satisfaction, a well-dressed man arrived and insisted on seeing the president. "If your bank is so outstanding for community service," the visitor said, as Mr. Ranzini recently recalled, "how come you're not servicing my community?"

What community, the banker asked, would that be?

"I'm a Muslim," the man responded.

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