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New CEO at Safe Harbor emphasizes expansion plans: "Growth is the goal"

Cannabis banking pioneer's new leader, Terry Mendez, took over from Sundie Seefried this year. Mendez aims to reduce expenses and revive the company following a nearly threefold increase in its losses last year.

New CEO of Safe Harbor emphasizes growth plan: 'Our goal is expansion'
New CEO of Safe Harbor emphasizes growth plan: 'Our goal is expansion'

New CEO at Safe Harbor emphasizes expansion plans: "Growth is the goal"

In the rapidly evolving world of fintech, Safe Harbor Financial, a company specialising in the cannabis industry, has been making waves. However, a recent search yielded no concrete information about its current strategy or growth plans, with results mainly focusing on Safe Harbor in the context of retirement plans and safe harbour legal provisions.

Despite this, we can glean some insights into Safe Harbor Financial's current status and future aspirations. The company, spun out in 2021 and taken public in 2022, has been navigating a challenging landscape, with less than 10% of U.S. financial institutions servicing the cannabis industry.

One of Safe Harbor's recent moves was announcing referral agreements with Würk and FundCanna this month. The company is also focusing on expanding its customer base, with the new CEO, Terry Mendez, emphasising marketing and sales efforts.

Safe Harbor has faced financial challenges, with a 13% drop in 2024 revenue to $15.2 million. However, the company has taken steps to improve its financial position, such as modifying its debt with PCCU, freeing up $6 million for investment. The company also spent about $3 million paying down a note in 2024.

Operating losses and uncertainty surrounding cash flows have raised concerns about Safe Harbor's financial stability, with the company's latest annual filing showing an increase in loss to $48.3 million in 2022. Despite this, the company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization over the last three years have been positive, with about $2.9 million last year.

Safe Harbor is also making strides in automation, adding a small-business line of credit program and planning to invest in its core platform to increase automation. The company has processed about $25 billion in deposit transactions for cannabis-related businesses in 41 states and U.S. territories.

Looking ahead, Safe Harbor hopes to grow the number of financial institutions on its platform from 6 to 20-25 in three years. The company is also exploring offering earned wage access as a service.

However, the company's financial health remains a concern, with the company flagging "material weaknesses" in its internal controls over financial reporting for 2024 and 2023. Safe Harbor also recently effected a reverse stock split to avoid Nasdaq delisting.

In conclusion, while the search results did not provide specific details about Safe Harbor Financial's current strategy and growth plans, we can see that the company is focused on expanding its customer base, increasing automation, and working with more financial institutions. However, financial challenges remain, and the company's long-term success will depend on its ability to navigate these obstacles.

  1. Safe Harbor Financial, a company specializing in the cannabis industry, announced referral agreements with Würk and FundCanna this month, indicating an expansion of its customer base.
  2. The new CEO, Terry Mendez, has emphasized marketing and sales efforts as a crucial part of Safe Harbor Financial's growth strategy.
  3. The company's financial position was challenged in 2024, with a 13% drop in revenue to $15.2 million, but steps were taken to improve the situation, such as modifying debt with PCCU and paying down a note.
  4. Despite operational losses and concerns about cash flows, Safe Harbor Financial's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization have been positive over the last three years.
  5. Safe Harbor Financial is also focusing on technology and automation, planning to invest in its core platform to increase automation and offering small-business line of credit programs.
  6. Looking ahead, Safe Harbor Financial hopes to grow the number of financial institutions on its platform and explore offering earned wage access as a service. However, concerns about the company's financial health persist, with material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting flagged, as well as a recent reverse stock split to avoid Nasdaq delisting.

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