Portfolio Manager on Pathward’s Commercial Finance team recognized for leadership redefining the specialty finance industry.

Pathward^®, N.A., a financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion, today announced that ABF Journal has named Julie Halbert, a Portfolio Manager for the Commercial Finance business line, to its list of Trailblazers. The award recognizes leading women in specialty finance who are redefining the industry.

“Not only has Julie enjoyed a long-tenured career in specialty finance leading people in a successful organization, but also she has held a variety of positions that equip her with an extensive depth and breadth of knowledge that she brings to her current role at Pathward,” said Christopher Soupal, Pathward Divisional President and Revenue Lending Officer. “She has been instrumental in the continual strategy, employee development and performance of the Working Capital team at Pathward, and we are thrilled to see her recognized for her contributions to our organization and industry at large.”

Halbert brings nearly three decades of commercial banking experience to her role as Portfolio Manager for Pathward’s working capital group. She began her career as a field examiner in 1993 and later became a portfolio manager before joining Pathward (formerly Crestmark Bank) in 2009 as an underwriter. From there, she became the underwriter manager for the Western Division and later moved into her role in portfolio management. Today, she leads a team of 30 and has control of planning, staffing, budgeting, managing expense priorities, and recommending and implementing changes to methods for an asset based commercial loan portfolio approaching $1 billion in total assets. Halbert resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“I’m honored by this recognition and Pathward’s confidence in my amazing team and me,” said Halbert. “I benefited greatly from working in nearly every position in an asset-based lending shop, and it taught me so much about the business, to include empathy and respect for various roles. My advice for others in the industry would be to develop a network of mentors and peers who you can learn from and trust, seek help when you need it, listen and stay curious.”

Read Halbert’s profile published in the May 2025 issue of ABF Journal at ABFJournal.com.

About Pathward^®

Pathward^®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Pathward Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASH). Pathward is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion. Pathward strives to increase financial availability, choice and opportunity across our Partner Solutions and Commercial Finance business lines. The strategic business lines provide support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at Pathward.com.

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