Archive for July, 2008

FNBO Direct Video Contest: $10 For Most, $500 For Top 20

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Back in June, online bank FNBO Direct launched a video contest called the Pay Yourself First Challenge where users are asked to submit a short YouTube clip about what you are saving for. The first 500 entrants get a $10 Amazon.com gift card, regardless of quality. On top of that, the top 20 submissions get a $500 cash prize, and the top 5 get up to $25,000 in matched savings. Apparently, they overestimated the tech-savviness of their customers, because as of today only fifteen video submissions are up on their group. That means everyone so far is winning $500 by default! Deadline is July 31st.

So, if you have a webcam, why not mess around and make a quick video and get $10 from Amazon. Use some creativity and get a solid chance at $500. My friend borrowed a Mac with iMovie and we whipped up the clip below. Given that we had never used iMovie before tonight, I’m actually quite happy with how it turned out. Remember, you can’t use copyrighted material. Of course, if I really wanted to win the smart thing to do would be to not blog about it here, but I’m not that bright.

FNBO Direct is actually paying 3.50% APY with no minimum balance requirements or fees, which sadly enough is pretty good these days. I do have some money there, and here is my FNBO Direct review.

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Raul Amezcua to Head Investment Banking Division for De La Rosa & Co.

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Jul 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Raul Amezcua has been named Head of Investment Banking for De La Rosa & Co. Amezcua leads 14 bankers split evenly between offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
President Edward J. De La Rosa said Amezcua “brings a broad view of strategic banking and client service that we want reflected across the division.”
De La Rosa & Co. has grown into one of California’s leading underwriters since the firm was founded 19 years ago. Recent economic turmoil sparked by the subprime crisis has caused many Wall Street banks to collapse, withdraw from municipal finance, or fail to support their municipal clients. However, De La Rosa has grown and prospered. The firm has accomplished this with a full commitment of its capital to municipal clients, the skill of its bankers and its singular focus on service to clients across the state.
These are exciting times for the firm and municipal finance, Amezcua said. “I’m very bullish on providing services on a par with – and even exceeding – our larger competitors.”
About Raul Amezcua
Raul Amezcua joined De La Rosa & Co. in 2003, after 12 years with New York-based bond firms. He is based in the Los Angeles office. During 17 years in California public finance, he has completed more than 90 senior-managed debt financings with an aggregate par value exceeding $14 billion.
Amezcua received an MBA from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA in 1991, and a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Southern California in 1987. He is a past board member of the California Public Securities Association, and chairs the Board of Directors of the PUENTE Learning Center in East Los Angeles.
About De La Rosa & Co.
When it was founded in 1989, De La Rosa & Co. initially focused its practice on public and private infrastructure projects. Today, it is one of the state’s primary investment-banking firms, providing advice and financial products to the State of California, the state’s largest cities and municipal utilities, and non-profit organizations. De La Rosa is now one of the dominant fixed-income broker-dealers in California. The firm also serves as remarketing agent or dealer for a $2.7-billion portfolio of short-term securities.
SOURCE: De La Rosa & Co.

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