Chase and O, The Oprah Magazine's Promotion Team Help Los Angeles Woman ''Stay a Step Ahead''

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toni Purry is effervescent, ambitious and confident – except when it comes to the financial management side of the business.

“Working with the Chase specialists has given me the right answers to my questions and done wonders for my confidence as a business owner. Banker Lovanda Davis has guided me in making several well-thought out decisions … decisions that are steering me in the direction of future growth.”

Bolstered by a strong desire to start and grow a business, Purry recently left an agency to start her own public relations company. While 16 successful years in public relations made her confident about stepping out, her lack of equivalent business savvy caused her tremendous concern.

Then Purry got help from a team of Chase financial specialists in a financial makeover she won through the “Stay a Step Ahead” contest sponsored by Chase and the O, The Oprah Magazine promotion team.

“I had questions about staffing, office space, investing in the business, banking, you name it,” said Purry, one of four winners chosen from nearly 9,000 women who submitted essays about their personal financial needs, goals and questions. “Working with the Chase specialists has given me the right answers to my questions and done wonders for my confidence as a business owner. Banker Lovanda Davis has guided me in making several well-thought out decisions … decisions that are steering me in the direction of future growth.”

The July issue of O, The Oprah Magazine features a special advertising section dedicated to these women’s stories and action plans. Additional information about each winner, including video clips, profiles, and Chase’s initial plan, is available at www.oprah.com/chase.

“Many women today are, for a variety of reasons, becoming responsible for their individual or their families’ financial well-being, opening them to the opportunity and risk of managing their household debt, making real estate decisions, planning for retirement and even managing small business finances,” said Saundra Schrock, who manages Chase’s network of 3,150 bank branches. “We are proud to offer them advice, education and tools to strengthen the reality of their dreams though the ‘Stay a Step Ahead’ contest.”

Chase business banker Lavonda Davis said: “It’s been rewarding to know that we have helped Toni make the right decisions for her small business now and set her up for future success in growing her company.”

Davis and the Chase team advised Purry to:

Apply for a business credit card to establish her business credit history;
Hire a part-time financial assistant to help her manage her business;
Develop a financial track record that will help her determine new growth opportunities for her business; and
Create a W-2 for her business to document income that will eventually help her purchase real estate.

Winning Contestants Each Face Unique Financial Challenges

Each contest winner has a specific goal that mirrors millions of women’s financial dreams across the country. Winners in addition to Purry are:

Angela Carter of West Chester, Ohio – A would-be homeowner who worries that her credit history might hinder her dreams;
Gina Schopf of Houston, Texas – A recently divorced mother who is about to be an empty-nester and wants control of post-divorce finances; and
Shelia Spencer of Gilbert, Arizona – A working mother who would like to become a stay-at-home mom.

Each woman has received financial consultations to get them on the right track, and will be consulting with their Chase financial specialist for the rest of the year.

Chase Provides Clear and Simple Solutions For All Customers

While the winners have taken advantage of Chase’s one-on-one financial advice, Chase provides all customers with information to achieve a solid financial footing. Customers can go to www.oprah.com/chase to learn more about the winners. In addition, Chase now offers Clear & Simple – a collection of free tools, resources and business practices that help its customers make wise credit decisions and manage debt effectively. For more information, visit www.chaseclearandsimple.com.

Chase is committed to keeping pace with its customers and delivering benefits that can make both an immediate and long-term impact on their lives.

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking brand of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM). Chase has more than 156 million credit cards issued and serves consumers and small businesses through 3,150 bank branches, 9,100 ATMs and 280 mortgage offices as well as through relationships with 15,000 auto dealerships and 4,300 schools and universities. It also serves more than 30,000 commercial banking clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions and not-for-profit entities. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.