Brian Hughes Named Foundation’s President

Who doesn’t love consistency during times of change (say, like a pandemic)? At Fremont Bank Foundation, we are thrilled to announce Brian Hughes, our executive director, was named president, taking over the role from his mother, Hattie Hyman Hughes.

Brian’s more than 30-year career at Fremont Bank began as a data input clerk, and he continued to hone his banking skills while acting as a loan specialist, call center assistant manager, operations projects manager and more. In 2008, Brian became the relationship officer for nonprofit agencies and started building partnerships with nonprofit agency clients. The role grew from manager of nonprofit relations to director of nonprofit business development to vice president of the nonprofit group, where he continues to be responsible for fulfilling one of the bank’s missions of being the “Bank of Choice for Nonprofit Agencies.”

Currently, Brian also is on the Bank’s board of directors, and he is a Foundation board member and now Foundation president. Under his direction as executive director since 2015, the Foundation’s giving has increased 86 percent.

Brian’s passion for giving back includes a storied family legacy. For starters, Morris Hyman, Brian’s grandfather, is Fremont Bank’s founder. Morris and his wife, Alvirda, were well-respected philanthropists and civic leaders who were instrumental in establishing the City of Fremont. Hattie, motivated by her family’s values and volunteerism, became Fremont Bank Foundation’s president upon its inception in 1995.

Hattie’s positive influence created an impact in the community and propelled the Foundation into the local media spotlight, where it received many recognitions as a top philanthropic organization.

Hattie’s numerous contributions to Fremont Bank and its Foundation also laid positive groundwork to continue growing the Foundation’s giving as surrounding communities’ needs changed. For instance, while the world was blindsided by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Foundation team quickly moved into action and donated $2 million to area schools, hospitals and other organizations that requested basic support and supplies immediately. That high level of commitment continues today and will do so into the future with Brian’s direction.