Bernie’s introduction to the world of finance was through his uncle, Aristides Sastre, President of Republic National Bank of Miami. Founded in 1965, Republic differentiated itself from other banks at the time because it specialized in personalized, community-oriented banking. Bankers extended “character” loans to people based on their track record, oftentimes dating back to Cuba. As new arrivals, Hispanic immigrants did not have significant collateral, and other banks would turn them away when they applied for loans. Republic instead saw opportunity and worked tirelessly with this group of new Americans: the bank’s pioneering practices helped fuel Miami’s economy considerably through the 1990s.

Bernie has been an observer of this success—not only of his father, baptismal godfather, and uncle—but also of the thousands of individuals, small businesses, and investors who were provided with opportunity by working with his family over the decades. As such, Bernie heard the clarion call and decided that he needed to continue this legacy and build the next generation of the community.

He, too, decided to give people an opportunity to build their dreams, relying less on a person’s credit history and more on an individual’s potential.

And that opportunity is provided through the Benworth Family Office.