Native American Bank works with Navajo Entrepreneur
December 2006

St. Michaels, AZ - NAB Assistant Vice President Jon Panamaroff saw great promise with Romero Brown and his Navajoland Days Inn and Denny’s Restaurant located on the Navajo Nation in St. Michaels, Arizona. The hotel remains one of the few hospitality establishments on the vast reservation that is home to over 250,000 Navajos, covers over 7,400 square miles in threes states.

In addition to operating a successful hotel on the reservation, Mr. Brown, also owns an adjacent Denny’s Restaurant. Since opening in 2003, the Denny’s has become a staple restaurant in St. Michael’s, which is just up the road from the capital of the Navajo Nation. With the Assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Loan Guaranty Program, NAB was able to secure financing to these quality establishments. “The deal was a win-win for NAB and Mr. Brown. We gave him an affordable rate, and it increased our presence in Navajo Country.” said Jon Panamaroff. “By creating new business development on the reservation the Navajos are keeping more money at home. By doing business banking with Native American Bank, the Browns are also investing in their own people.”

The deal also couldn’t have come together at a better time. “For quite a while there I was looking to refinance at an affordable rate. Native American Bank worked with me, the Navajo Nation, and the BIA to make sure that our business remains a permanent fixture on the reservation” said Mr. Brown. “Navajoland finally has a bank that not only pays attention to us, but shares our vision to grow the reservation.”