Market Newsdesk

Planned acquisition furthers IBM’s commitment to open-source innovation; helps clients access untapped, unstructured enterprise data to maximize the impact of generative AI

ARMONK, N.Y.
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today is announcing its intent to acquire DataStax, an AI and data solution provider. DataStax’s technology will enhance IBM’s watsonx portfolio of products accelerating the use of generative AI, helping companies unlock value from vast amounts of unstructured data.

The acquisition also builds on IBM’s commitment to open-source AI. DataStax is the creator of AstraDB and DataStax Enterprise, NoSQL and vector database capabilities powered by Apache Cassandra®; and Langflow, the open-source tool and community for low-code AI application development.

IBM will continue to support, engage, and innovate with the open-source Apache Cassandra®, Langflow, Apache Pulsar™, and OpenSearch communities in which DataStax participates. IBM’s long-standing commitment to open-source AI includes the open-source IBM Granite foundation models and Instruct Lab, a revolutionary approach to advancing true open-source innovation around LLMs.

Harnessing unstructured data for the enterprise

Businesses are struggling to harness valuable, unstructured data from across their business, which is critical for powering generative AI. Without tools to properly ingest and manage this untapped data, costly generative AI projects will fail to deliver their full potential. Even 70% of companies with high-performing generative AI initiatives experience data-related difficulties, according to McKinsey, and it is estimated that just one percent of enterprise data is represented in today’s AI models. 

IBM is a leader in helping clients scale generative AI and transform their business using enterprise data. The acquisition of DataStax enhances these efforts. Their vector database excels at harnessing unstructured enterprise data and accelerating its time to value, and Langflow provides a graphical, low-code design environment and component orchestration for generative AI apps that facilitates collaboration across diverse skillsets.

• 
  AstraDB
  andDataStax Enterpriseprovide NoSQL and vector database capabilities powered by Apache Cassandra®, enabling production-ready generative AI applications for the enterprise. AstraDB will enhance the existing vector capabilities of IBM watsonx.data, IBM’s hybrid, open data lakehouse for AI and analytics. Thousands of organizations use Apache Cassandra®, including some of the biggest names in software, retail, finance, and ecommerce. Apache Cassandra® provides scalability, availability, fault tolerance, high performance, and multi-data-center and hybrid cloud support. And increasingly, Apache Cassandra® users are leveraging the database for AI workloads. In this context, DataStax brings together a mature datastore with vector and graphRAG capabilities – a critical combination for harnessing unstructured data for generative AI
• 
  Langflow
  is a low-code, open-source app builder for RAG and multi-agent AI applications. It is Python-based and model-, API-, and database-agnostic. Langflow adds additional flexible middleware capabilities to IBM watsonx.ai, the integrated, end-to-end AI development studio for building generative AI applications

“Businesses cannot realize the full potential of generative AI without the right infrastructure – open-source tools and technologies that empower developers, harness unstructured data, and provide a strong foundation for AI applications,” says Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, IBM Software. “DataStax possesses deep competency in this area and shares IBM’s relentless commitment to simplifying and scaling generative AI for the enterprise.”    

“Enterprises want to deliver production AI fast, but are still struggling to unlock the value in their data to power AI applications and agents,” says Chet Kapoor, Chairman and CEO of DataStax. “DataStax’s products solve this problem, accelerating AI’s promise with the scalability, security, and accuracy developers and enterprises need. We’ve long said that there is no AI without data, and are excited to execute this vision with IBM.” 

DataStax’s hundreds of customers include FedEx, Capital One, The Home Depot and Verizon. DataStax was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. 

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.  The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

Kevin Zawacki

Communications, IBM Software
[email protected]  

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-to-acquire-datastax-deepening-watsonx-capabilities-and-addressing-generative-ai-data-needs-for-the-enterprise-302384809.html

SOURCE IBM

TORONTO
, Feb. 25, 2025 /CNW/ – Canada’s agricultural sector is poised to lead a new era of trade diversification, but only if it acts decisively. A new RBC Thought Leadership report, Food First: How Agriculture Can Lead a New Era for Canadian Exports, outlines a plan to expand Canada’s global market share by 30% and drive $44 billion in new agri-food exports by 2035.

“This research highlights a critical moment for Canada’s agri-food sector. While Canada’s agricultural exports have quadrupled in value since 2000, its global market share has shrunk by 12% as competitors like Brazil and Australia expand into high-growth regions. With rising trade uncertainty and escalating tariffs in North America, Canada must accelerate efforts to diversify its trading partners, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East,” states Lisa Ashton, Agriculture Policy Lead, RBC Thought Leadership and author of the report.

To achieve this, RBC worked with the BCG Centre for Canada’s Future to build a model projecting export market share potential. The Food First report introduces a national roadmap designed to unlock Canada’s full potential as an agricultural powerhouse.

“Canada has long been one of the world’s leading food producers,” said John Stackhouse, Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO, RBC. “We have an opportunity to turn agriculture into a driving force for trade diversification and if we act now, we can ensure Canadian farmers, processors, and exporters are well-positioned to lead the global food economy rather than losing ground to competitors. This report lays out a clear roadmap to strengthen our trade relationships, scale our agri-food industries, and make Canada a leader in sustainable, high-value food production.”

The release of the Food First report marks a key milestone in RBC’s broader efforts to help Canada build a resilient and diversified economy. The report is part of series of major initiatives tied to the RBC Trade Hub, a platform designed to provide data-driven insights, strategic recommendations, and actionable solutions for Canada’s trade future.

Through the Trade Hub, RBC will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to drive forward a new vision for Canadian trade – one that strengthens North America while expanding globally.

Key Recommendations from the Food First Report

1. Innovation: Accelerate the adoption of precision farming and food processing technologies to increase productivity and efficiency.
2. Capital: Scale up agri-food processing clusters to add value to raw commodities and expand Canada’s footprint in global markets.
3. Digital access: Close the 5G and high-speed internet gap in rural Canada to unlock the full potential of digital agriculture.
4. Export Infrastructure: Modernize ports, logistics, and transportation networks to reduce bottlenecks and improve export reliability.
5. Global marketing: Strengthen market development efforts and regulatory alignment in high-growth regions like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

About RBC Thought Leadership
RBC Thought Leadership strives to deliver critical insights to help businesses, policymakers, and communities make informed decisions in a changing world. From geopolitical shifts to Canadian growth and productivity, disruptive technology, and the future of skills, its research is designed to provide meaningful insights that can help drive prosperity for all Canadians. You can find out more about RBC Thought Leadership at https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 98,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

For more information, please contact:


Frances Dawson

SOURCE RBC

The limited-time collaboration features underwater-inspired dishes and an exclusive fry cook collectible

CHICAGO
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Grab your spatulas and say “I’m ready!” because it’s time to fire up the griddle with Bikini Bottom’s favorite fry cook! Home Chef, the leading meal solutions company available online and in stores nationwide, is partnering with the beloved Nickelodeon animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants, to bring SpongeBob’s crustaceous crew’s recipes to the Home Chef menu. Inspired by SpongeBob’s underwater adventures, this four-week collaboration combines iconic moments from the show with delicious dishes that will make everyone feel like a goofy goober.

“At Home Chef, we’re committed to creating delicious, easy-to-make meals that everyone can enjoy,” says Kayla McCreery, marketing manager at Home Chef. “Teaming up with SpongeBob SquarePants allows us to bring a playful twist to mealtime, offering a fun way for fans of all ages to recreate the flavors of Bikini Bottom, no boating license needed.”

Customers can dive into the SpongeBob SquarePants-themed menu starting today! The selection of fun and tasty recipes will rotate weekly, featuring new creations and a few repeating favorites, through Friday, March 21. To make this partnership even more memorable, every meal from Home Chef’s main menu the weeks of March 10 and 17 will be packaged in a unique, collectible box inspired by the series. As an added treat, new customers ordering from the SpongeBob SquarePants menu can use the voucher code “CHEFKRABS” to receive an exclusive SpongeBob “mini spatula.”*

Menu offerings include:

• Pineapple Under the Sea Burger with “tiki” teriyaki sauce and cilantro “kelp” fries (repeats weekly)
• “CHOCOLATE!” Brownie Cookie Skillet (repeats weekly)
• Sandy’s Texas-Style Honey BBQ Chicken with cheddar mashed potatoes and creamed corn
• The “Krusty Krab Pizza” Flatbread with pepperoni and mushrooms
• Plankton’s “Holographic” Beef Meatloaf with Karen’s Salad
• “Kuddly Krab” Chicken Sa-lad with lettuce and tomatoes

First-time customers can use code “CHEFKRABS” to receive meals for $4.99 per serving with free shipping to see what all the hoopla is about.** For more information on the Home Chef and SpongeBob SquarePants partnership, please visit cook.homechef.com/spongebob or follow Home Chef on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

*The free SpongeBob SquarePants spatulas are only available during the promotional period and while supplies last. Customers must use specific SpongeBob SquarePants promotional codes during the promotional period in order to receive the SpongeBob SquarePants spatulas. Visit cook.homechef.com/spongebob for full terms and conditions.

**Valid only for new customers. Meals offer applies as follows: 50% off reg. price of 1st box ($41 max discount/box), 17% off reg. price of next 4 boxes ($14 max discount/box) and 35% off reg. price of next 2 boxes ($28 max discount/box) on Home Chef standard orders only. Customers who purchase 6-8 meals/week will pay a promotional price of $4.99/serving for their first box. Unused box discounts expire 10 weeks after signup. Shipping fee applies on deliveries after the first box. Limit 1 per household. May not be combined with gift cards or other offers. No cash value. Not valid in all states. Void where prohibited. Additional details.

About Home Chef

Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. The meal delivery service is available via homechef.com and packaged meal solutions can be found at more than 2,400 stores in the Kroger Family of Companies. Home Chef is committed to bringing ease and convenience to home cooking through simple, delicious meals, so home cooks can enjoy their time at home, both in and out of the kitchen. The Chicago-based company was ranked #1 among meal delivery services by Newsweek (2024). Home Chef is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). Find out more and get cooking at homechef.com. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X for updates and inspiration.

About SpongeBob SquarePants

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has generated a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most widely distributed properties in Paramount history, seen in more than 180 markets, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 90 million total viewers every quarter. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif.  The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/home-chef-partners-with-spongebob-squarepants-to-bring-bikini-bottoms-iconic-flavors-to-kitchens-on-land-nationwide-302384622.html

SOURCE Home Chef

NEW YORK
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) today released the December 2024 results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices. The leading measure of U.S. home prices recorded a 3.9% annual gain in December 2024, a slight increase from the previous annual gains in 2024. More than 27 years of history are available for the data series and can be accessed in full by going to https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/index-family/indicators/sp-corelogic-case-shiller/.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 3.9% annual return for December, up from a 3.7% annual gain in the previous month. The 10-City Composite saw an annual increase of 5.1%, up from a 5% annual increase in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 4.5%, up from a 4.3% increase in the previous month. New York again reported the highest annual gain among the 20 cities with a 7.2% increase in December, followed by Chicago and Boston with annual increases of 6.6% and 6.3%, respectively. Tampa posted the lowest return, falling 1.1%.

MONTH-OVER-MONTH

The pre-seasonally adjusted U.S. National and 20-City Composite Indices’ upward trends continued to reverse in December, with both posting a -0.1% drop. The 10-City Composite’s monthly return dropped 0.04%.

After seasonal adjustment, the U.S. National, 20-City, and 10-City Composite Indices all posted a month-over-month increase of 0.5%.

ANALYSIS

“It has been five years since the Covid-19 outbreak took hold of the global economy, sparking unprecedented volatility, massive fiscal and monetary stimulus, and a housing market that responded to national migratory changes in how we work and where we live,” says Brian D. Luke, CFA, Head of Commodities, Real & Digital Assets at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “National home prices have risen by 8.8% annually since 2020, led by markets in Florida, North Carolina, Southern California, and Arizona. While our National Index continues to trend above inflation, we are a few years removed from peak home price appreciation of 18.9% observed in 2021 and are seeing below-trend growth over the history of the index.

“Home prices stalled during the second half of the year with markets in the West dropping the fastest. San Francisco, the worst performing market since 2020, dropped 4.5% during the last six months of the year, followed by Seattle with a 3.0% decline. San Francisco is now 11.0% lower than its post-pandemic peak reached in May 2022. Previous strongholds like San Diego and Tampa experienced declines of 2.9% and 2.7%, respectively, during the second half of the year. After accounting for seasonal adjustments, our National Index pushed forward to achieve a 19^th consecutive all-time high,” Luke continued. “The longest such streak occurred for over 12-years, notching 153 consecutive all-time highs from July 1993 to March 2006.

“The Northeast continues to lead all regions with above-trend growth, led by New York for the eighth consecutive time. Boston reached an all-time high, the only market to do so for the period ended December 2024.

“The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index continues to highlight the upward trend of home prices nationally,” Luke concluded. “Through this recent market cycle, the ability of Americans to grow wealth by participating in the upside of the U.S. housing market, particularly if done through a leveraged position by securing a mortgage, has proven to be historically beneficial.”

SUPPORTING DATA

Table 1 below shows the housing boom/bust peaks and troughs for the three composites along with the current levels and percentage changes from the peaks and troughs.

Table 2 below summarizes the results for December 2024. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices could be revised for the prior 24 months, based on the receipt of additional source data.

Table 3 below shows a summary of the monthly changes using the seasonally adjusted (SA) and non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) data. Since its launch in early 2006, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices have published, and the markets have followed and reported on, the non-seasonally adjusted data set used in the headline indices. For analytical purposes, S&P Dow Jones Indices publishes a seasonally adjusted data set covered in the headline indices, as well as for the 17 of 20 markets with tiered price indices and the five condo markets that are tracked.

For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit www.spglobal.com/spdji.

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500^® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average^®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

April Kabahar
Global Head of Communications
New York, USA
(+1) 212 438 7530
[email protected]

S&P Dow Jones Indices’ interactive blog, IndexologyBlog.com, delivers real-time commentary and analysis from industry experts across S&P Global on a wide range of topics impacting residential home prices, homebuilding and mortgage financing in the United States. Readers and viewers can visit the blog at www.indexologyblog.com, where feedback and commentary are welcomed and encouraged.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices are published on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am ET. They are constructed to accurately track the price path of typical single-family homes located in each metropolitan area provided. Each index combines matched price pairs for thousands of individual houses from the available universe of arms-length sales data. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index tracks the value of single-family housing within the United States. The index is a composite of single-family home price indices for the nine U.S. Census divisions and is calculated quarterly. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 10-City Composite Home Price Index is a value-weighted average of the 10 original metro area indices. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index is a value-weighted average of the 20 metro area indices. The indices have a base value of 100 in January 2000; thus, for example, a current index value of 150 translates to a 50% appreciation rate since January 2000 for a typical home located within the subject market.

These indices are generated and published under agreements between S&P Dow Jones Indices and CoreLogic, Inc.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices are produced by CoreLogic, Inc. In addition to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, CoreLogic also offers home price index sets covering thousands of zip codes, counties, metro areas, and state markets. The indices, published by S&P Dow Jones Indices, represent just a small subset of the broader data available through CoreLogic.

Case-Shiller^® and CoreLogic^® are trademarks of CoreLogic Case-Shiller, LLC or its affiliates or subsidiaries (“CoreLogic”) and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices. None of the financial products based on indices produced by CoreLogic or its predecessors in interest are sponsored, sold, or promoted by CoreLogic, and neither CoreLogic nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or predecessors in interest makes any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-corelogic-case-shiller-index-records-3-9-annual-gain-in-december-2024–302384813.html

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

CHICAGO
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, today announced its new financially settled options on Bitcoin Friday futures are now available for trading. The first trade, a block, took place on Sunday, February 23, and was executed between Cumberland DRW and Galaxy and cleared by Marex.

“We are pleased to see such early and strong support for these new options products,” said Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group. “These smaller sized, cash-settled contracts, with expiries available every day of the business week, will provide traders with even greater precision to manage short-term bitcoin price risk.”

“We are pleased to support CME Group’s new options on Bitcoin Friday futures by executing the first option block trade,” said Roman Makarov, Head of Options Trading at Cumberland DRW. “Innovative products like this give users increased liquidity, flexibility and optionality to engage in the rapidly expanding intersection between traditional and crypto markets. It’s exciting to see trusted exchanges like CME Group continue to support this ecosystem through relevant product launches, and Cumberland DRW is proud to be a longstanding partner in that journey.”

“Marex is thrilled to have cleared the first block trade for CME Group’s new options on Bitcoin Friday futures for two FCM clients,” said Brooks Dudley, Head of Digital Assets Sales at Marex Capital Markets. “These contracts will sharpen visibility into short-term volatility, empowering traders with a precise risk management tool.  It’s a proud milestone in our mission to deliver cutting-edge, secure clearing solutions to the institutional digital asset market.”

“CME Group’s introduction of options on Bitcoin Friday Futures is a valuable expansion of their product suite,” said Mike Harvey, Head of Franchise Trading at Galaxy. “The contracts’ low notional value makes them accessible to a broad range of market participants, while the 4 p.m.New York settlement time offers added precision for developing and executing trading strategies.”

Financially settled options on Bitcoin Friday futures will complement CME Group’s existing suite of physically-settled options on Bitcoin, Ether, Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures, providing additional risk management flexibility to investors.

For more information on these products, please visit: cmegroup.com/bff.

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals.  The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform.  In addition, it operates one of the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. 

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.  NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.  COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec is a trademark of BrokerTec Americas LLC and EBS is a trademark of EBS Group LTD. The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P DJI”). “S&P®”, “S&P 500®”, “SPY®”, “SPX®”, US 500 and The 500 are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones®, DJIA® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. These trademarks have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Futures contracts based on the S&P 500 Index are not sponsored, endorsed, marketed, or promoted by S&P DJI, and S&P DJI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

CME-G

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cme-group-announces-first-trades-of-options-on-bitcoin-friday-futures-302384471.html

SOURCE CME Group

Leveraging Alkami’s cutting-edge technology, Financial Center First Credit Union enhances its dual-branded strategy and member experience with a scalable digital banking platform

PLANO, Texas
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the U.S., announced today its partnership with Indianapolis-based Financial Center First Credit Union (Financial Center) to transform its digital banking experience. A key aspect of this collaboration is Financial Center’s ability to enhance its dual-branded strategy, serving both its primary membership and Ball State Financial, a co-branded entity catering to Ball State University’s community. By leveraging Alkami’s Platform, Financial Center can now deliver distinct branding and personalized experiences to different member segments—an opportunity not previously possible.

Through Alkami’s Digital Banking Platform, Financial Center will provide its retail and business members with a user-friendly, scalable, and feature-rich digital banking experience. By combining Alkami’s Data & Marketing Solutions with digital banking, the credit union will streamline individual offers through audience building based on transaction behavior and purchase intent.

“At Financial Center, we are always looking for ways to make the digital experience better, faster and easier when working with us,” said Chris Sibila, senior vice president and chief information officer at Financial Center. “Through the design and implementation of Alkami’s Digital Banking Platform, we have delivered an intuitive experience that allows our members to easily manage their accounts, leading to increased satisfaction and engagement. Alkami’s Platform not only enhances the digital banking experience but also supports our long-term growth by allowing us to quickly adapt to new features and services as our needs evolve.”

Additionally, Alkami’s Platform supports automated clearing house (ACH) processing and integrates seamlessly across Financial Center’s retail and business banking services, further reinforcing the credit union’s mission to provide comprehensive and efficient financial solutions.

“Financial Center is dedicated to delivering a best-in-class digital experience to its members, and we are proud to support them in this journey,” said Taylor Adkins, vice president, product management at Alkami. “Our Platform will provide Financial Center with the tools needed to differentiate themselves in the marketplace while ensuring their members receive a seamless and highly engaging banking experience.”

To learn more about Alkami’s Digital Banking Platform, visit here.

Alkami has been certified by J.D. Power for providing “An Outstanding Mobile Banking Platform Experience¹.”

About Alkami


Alkami Technology, Inc.
 is a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the United States that enables clients to grow confidently, adapt quickly, and build thriving digital communities. Alkami helps clients transform through retail and business banking, digital account opening, payment security, and data and marketing solutions. To learn more, visit www.alkami.com.

About Financial Center
At Financial Center, over 60,000 members are in pursuit of healthier, more vibrant financial lives. Our Credit Union manages $884 million in assets for a diverse community of members in greater Indianapolis, Kokomo and Muncie, Indiana – and beyond. We’re known for providing inclusive banking services, free financial wellness resources, and the people and products to create momentum for whatever’s ahead. Our team of nearly 200 employees are expert coaches and mentors for members – helping them discover new possibilities and chase down their next financial milestones. Join us at fcfcu.com today.

Media Relations Contacts
Vested
[email protected]

Marla Pieton

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/financial-center-first-credit-union-elevates-digital-banking-with-alkami-strengthens-dual-branded-strategy-302383914.html

SOURCE Alkami Technology, Inc.

• Nearly 4,000 employees had the opportunity to nominate nonprofits in the state
• Five organizations were selected to receive $10,000 each to support their local missions

GREENVILLE, S.C.
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — To celebrate Black History Month, Duke Energy’s South Carolina employees have awarded $50,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations whose focus is uplifting, educating and assisting local communities.

“We reached out to the men and women who represent Duke Energy in South Carolina every day to see what nonprofits in their communities they wanted to receive grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation,” said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president. “These organizations were chosen from their nominations, and we hope these funds will be helpful for them as they work to support our friends and neighbors.”

The following qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits each received a $10,000 grant:

• Boys & Girls Club of the Pee Dee Area (Florence and Darlington counties)
• Calvary Children’s Home (Anderson County)
• Fostering Faithfully (Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties)
• Greer Relief and Resource Agency (Spartanburg and Greenville counties)
• A Father’s Way (Lancaster, York, Union and Chester counties)

“At Greer Relief, our mission is to eliminate poverty and help neighbors overcome barriers to success, and this generous support will allow us to continue providing critical resources and programs to underserved communities,” said Caroline Robertson, executive director of Greer Relief. “We are deeply grateful to the Duke Energy employees who nominated us and to the Duke Energy Foundation for investing in the well-being and empowerment of our neighbors.”

“We appreciate great partners like Duke Energy for understanding the importance of developing our youth and for helping us empower them to reach their full potential,” said Neal L. Zimmerman Jr., executive director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

Contact: Ryan Mosier
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-celebrates-black-history-month-with-50-000-in-grants-directed-to-organizations-by-companys-south-carolina-employees-302384741.html

SOURCE Duke Energy

The seven-episode series, presented by Toyota Corolla, leverages Sonoro’s unique expertise to connect with the fastest-growing consumer segment in the U.S.

LOS ANGELES
, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Toyota has partnered with Sonoro, the leading Hispanic media company creating culturally relevant content for a global audience, and Latin Music and Cultural Executive AJ Ramos to launch a new podcast, Chasing Sueños. The seven-episode original podcast series with visual components, presented by Toyota Corolla, is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

Chasing Sueños celebrates ambition, resilience, and cultural identity. Recorded in the custom-designed Toyota Studio, the series features intimate, in-depth conversations with some of the most influential Latin artists today. Episodes delve into pivotal moments of each artist’s journey—from side hustles and setbacks to breakthroughs and success stories.

Uniquely tied to the brand’s campaign that champions the perseverance of Latinos and their hustle, the Toyota Corolla takes center stage in a special audiovisual episode, seamlessly blending storytelling with product promotion. This format not only enhances the interview but also enhances audience engagement, complemented by Christian Alicea, “the next big thing in tropical music,” debuting a sneak peek of a new song, making the moment— and the brand— feel even more powerful.

Hosted and Executive Produced by AJ Ramos, a trailblazer in the Latin music and media industry, the series will feature candid conversations with influential artists driving culture. Guests include Mike Bahía, Greeicy, Edgar Barrera, Ela Taubert, Daymé Arocena, Christian Alicea, and Maffio.  Collectively, these artists represent over 32 million monthly YouTube Music listeners, 30 million Instagram followers, and more than a dozen Latin Grammy accolades.

In collaboration with its Hispanic marketing partner Conill, Toyota actively explores partnerships that resonate with Hispanic communities during key cultural moments. The podcast series developed with Sonoro offers authentic content that forges deep connections by blending vibrant narratives with musical talent, exploring themes of hustle and success that reflect the essence of the Corolla family audience. 

“Sonoro is proud to be the bridge between brands like Toyota and the vibrant Hispanic audiences they aim to engage,” said Camila Victoriano, Chief Content Officer at Sonoro. “Chasing Sueños reflects the passion that defines the Latin music scene, and we’re thrilled to create a platform where these stories can inspire the next generation of dreamers.”

“As Hispanic consumers continue to drive economic growth, forward-thinking brands recognize the need for culturally resonant storytelling,” said Cesar Martinez, Chief Commercial Officer at Sonoro. “By partnering with Sonoro, Toyota isn’t just reaching an important  audience—they’re fostering lasting brand loyalty with the new general market, one that encompasses far more diversity than many appreciate.”

“We’re excited for this partnership with Sonoro, providing us with another platform to create authentic connections with a young Hispanic audience,” added Andrew George, Sr. Analyst, Media, Model & Series, Integrated Marketing Operations, Toyota Motor North America. “At Toyota, we’re committed to supporting these future-makers, aligning with their hustle, and ensuring our vehicles reflect their strong drive to forge ahead and shape their own destiny.”

The first episode of Chasing Sueños is live, with all episodes now available. For more information, visit sonoromedia.com.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands and directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America (nearly 48,000 in the U.S.).

For almost 70 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, the company’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (more than 2.3 million in the U.S.) in 2024, of which more than 43 percent were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

About Sonoro
Sonoro is a global entertainment company focused on creating premium, culturally relevant content that starts in audio and comes alive in TV, film, and beyond. Sonoro collaborates with leading and emerging Latino storytellers – writers, producers, and directors – from over a dozen countries to develop original franchises in English, Spanish, and Spanglish. The company is pioneering new podcast formats and has launched multiple #1 hits, including Toxicomanía: El Experimento Mexicano (being adapted as a film for Paramount+), Tejana, starring and executive produced by Stephanie Beatriz (2022 Best Fiction Ambie Winner, being developed for television), Crónicas Obscuras (#1 horror franchise), Princess of South Beach (#1 show in iHeartRadio’s MyCultura Network) and Ídolo: The Ballad of Chalino Sánchez (#1 in Mexico and Top 10 in US). With a diverse array of podcasts, Sonoro has established itself as a pioneer in the realm of audio storytelling.

Since its founding in 2020, Sonoro has created premium, culturally relevant content in collaboration with leading and emerging Latino storytellers. The company has 20+ television and film projects in active development with partners, including Netflix, NBC Universal, and Paramount+.  Sonoro has more than 100 million monthly downloads across its network of 150+ podcasts and reaches 1 out of every 3 US Hispanics.

About AJ Ramos
AJ Ramos is a recognized Latin Music & Culture Executive and Multimedia Public Figure born in New Jersey to Salvadoran parents.

For over 18+ years, AJ has leveraged his strong relationships to facilitate career-changing opportunities to artists. He solidified his career through terrestrial and satellite Radio, Television, and Festival/Concert Hosting before joining Spotify’s first-ever Latin Music Division. The young executive has been at YouTube Music/Google since 2019, where he currently holds the title of Head of Artist Partnerships Latin Music & Culture. There, Ramos builds and fosters strong relationships between the platform and recording artists, and facilitates Partner activations that offer impactful visibility and growth. He continues to bring value to Latin music and culture.

His accomplishments include four-time Billboard Magazine ‘Latin Music Power Players,’ Hispanic Coalition of New York ’30 Under 30,’ Variety’s ‘Hollywood’s New Leaders of 2022,’ and Miami Entertainment Impact Report Honoree. AJ was also the MC for Netflix’s “La Firma.” and a Latin Music and Culture Expert for the Emmy Award Winning ABC/Hulu show “Soul of a Nation.” AJ Ramos is also the official Sunday Night Football Opening Game Voice en Español for NBC Universo and Telemundo.

When he’s not curating culture, public speaking, or executing brand partnerships, Ramos is creating content to inspire, empower, and bring awareness to topics like mental health, down syndrome, spirituality, and personal growth.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sonoro-aj-ramos-and-toyota-launch-chasing-suenos-a-groundbreaking-video-podcast-celebrating-latin-musicians-pursuing-their-dreams-302384770.html

SOURCE Sonoro