RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The American Bankers Association has awarded Rebecca “Becky” Schauer Robertson, Blue Ridge Bank’s Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Risk Officer the ABA Distinguished Service award for Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism. Robertson is a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry. Throughout her career, she has developed deep expertise in risk strategy, financial crimes compliance and regulatory remediation across both traditional and fintech banking environments.

A dedicated volunteer and educator, Robertson has been instrumental in the development of several ABA training and professional development initiatives. She served on the founding boards for both the Certified AML and Fraud Professional certification and the ABA AML and Fraud School and has long contributed to the ABA AML and Fraud Conference advisory board. Robertson helped design the school’s original curriculum, recruit faculty and develop educational content, and remains one of its most highly regarded instructors. Robertson is a past board member of both the Carolinas ACAMS and Virginia ACAMS Chapters Boards, past president of the South Carolina InfraGard and SC FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association and past treasurer of the Crimestoppers of the Midlands SC Board. Her commitment to training and mentoring the next generation of AML professionals has been a key factor in the success and growth of ABA’s AML education programs.

Grace Vallacchi, Executive Vice President Chief Risk Officer and Chief Credit Officer, had this to say about the honor: “My heartfelt congratulations to Becky for this well-deserved award. Her leadership and expertise are truly inspirational, and it has been my privilege to work with her at Blue Ridge over the last two and a half years.”

“Thanks to Becky’s expertise, tireless effort and ability to attract talent, Blue Ridge Bank exited a largely BSA related Consent Order with unprecedented speed last year. On behalf of our company and Board of Directors, I congratulate Becky for receiving this award and recognition,” said Harry Golliday, CEO of Blue Ridge Bank.

About Blue Ridge Bank, N.A.

Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. is the holding company for Blue Ridge Bank and BRB Financial Group, Inc. The Company, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides a wide range of financial services including retail and commercial banking. The Company also provides investment and wealth management services and management services for personal and corporate trusts, including estate planning and trust administration. Visit www.mybrb.bank for more information.

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SOURCE Blue Ridge Bank, National Association

The company is recognized for translating global scale into localized execution, combining disciplined growth, innovation, and customer-centric delivery to strengthen its leadership position across the Latin American CXM market.

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As customer experience providers across Latin America face rising expectations for measurable outcomes, operational resilience, and technology-enabled transformation, TP is demonstrating how scale can be translated into meaningful local impact. Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that TP has received the 2026 Latin America Competitive Strategy Leadership Recognition in the Customer Experience Management (CXM) industry, recognizing the company’s ability to combine disciplined execution, strategic agility, and innovation to deliver sustained value for clients across the region.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. TP excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align strategic initiatives with market realities while executing with efficiency, consistency, and scale. “TP reinforces strategic effectiveness through its ability to translate global scale into local execution. The company systematically leverages enterprise-wide technology platforms, operating frameworks, and governance standards while ensuring implementation approaches reflect local market realities,” said Sebastian Menutti, Industry Director, ICT at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by its Future Forward strategy, TP has demonstrated its ability to adapt to changing market conditions while strengthening its position across Latin America. Its integrated regional model spans 16 countries, enabling the company to balance local, nearshore, Spain, and broader European client opportunities while optimizing resources and strengthening operational resilience. TP’s disciplined approach to productivity, automation, governance, and capacity planning supports consistent execution while enabling continued investment in innovation and long-term growth.

Innovation remains central to TP’s approach. Through TP.ai, the company integrates AI, human expertise, and digital technologies to expand its capabilities and create new business opportunities. Its acquisition of Agents Only further strengthens its position in next-generation AI data services through an on-demand, AI-enabled crowdsourcing model. Together, these initiatives support the development and scaling of locally originated innovations across the region and into global markets. “Our strategy is designed to turn innovation into meaningful business value for our clients. By combining AI, human expertise, and our global capabilities with strong local execution, we are helping organizations across Latin America transform their customer experience, and build for long-term growth,” said Andrés Bernal, LATAM President at TP.

TP’s distinctive operating culture further strengthens its competitive position. Frost & Sullivan’s analysis highlights the company’s combination of an entrepreneurial ownership mindset with the scale and discipline of an enterprise platform, enabling teams to make decisions quickly and address challenges at the point of impact. “A distinctive combination of entrepreneurial culture, operating philosophy, and innovation leadership differentiates TP, as competitors struggle to achieve similar results,” said Samantha Fisher, Best Practices Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

TP also differentiates through a customer value strategy that brings together price-to-performance, customer experience, and brand equity. Its use of advanced automation and AI-enabled delivery models supports productivity while maintaining service quality, while outcome-based and shared-risk commercial models align performance with client objectives. The company’s geo-diversified delivery model, security framework, and standardized operating practices further support consistent service execution across markets.

Frost & Sullivan commends TP for its strategic discipline, innovation leadership, and ability to execute at scale across the LATAM CXM market. By combining human expertise with intelligent technologies, TP is helping clients move beyond traditional customer service operations toward integrated, digitally powered customer experience ecosystems.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Competitive Strategy Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The recognition honors forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Lindsey Whitaker
E: Lindsey.Whitaker@frost.com

About TP Group
TP is a global leader in digital business services that consistently seeks to blend the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world’s biggest brands and their customers. The group’s comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front office customer care to back-office functions, including high-value digital transformation services, collections and operations consulting. It also offers a range of Specialized Services such as interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. The teams of multilingual, inspired, and passionate experts and advisors, spread in close to 100 countries, as well as the group’s local presence allow it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment.
For more information: www.tp.com 

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

MIAMI, Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Miami-Dade County broke its annual record for $30 million-plus home sales in just nine months, another sign of the wealth flowing into South Florida, according to September 2026 statistics released today by MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld.

Through September 2026, Miami-Dade recorded 24 single-family and condominium sales of $30 million or more, topping its full-year 2025 record of 21 transactions by 14.3%. At the current pace, the county is on track to record 32 $30 million-plus home sales by year-end.

“South Florida ultra luxury real estate is booming, and the numbers are impressive,” MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld Chairman of the Board Alfredo Pujol said. “But there are opportunities for buyers at many different price points, with options from Miami to St. Lucie starting around $400,000. In Miami, condo sales near the $400,000 median price point are up 15% year-over-year, showing that there’s plenty of activity beyond the luxury market, too.”

Latest South Florida real estate rankings/stats:

#1 in Home Equity: South Florida single-family homeowners who purchased a home 15 years ago have over $500,000 in home equity compared to $333,700 nationally as of 2026 Q2 via MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld Research.#1 Ultra-Luxury Market in the U.S.: South Florida averages one $10M home sale per day. In 2025, South Florida posted the most $20M & up condo sales in its history; the second-most $10M & up total home sales in history; and more.#1 Market in the U.S. for Cash Buyers: 82% of Miami $1M & up condo sales were all-cash in 2025. The Miami MSA leads the nation in all-cash sales, which means many buyers are operating on liquidity, not debt.

Miami Condo Sales Rise Year-over-Year
Condo sales increased 1% year-over-year in September 2026, from 904 to 909. Condos priced near the median price point, from $300K to $400K, saw a 14.5% year-over-year sales growth, increasing from 159 to 182.

Total home sales decreased 2% year-over-year in September 2026, from 1,769 to 1,733. Single-family home transactions declined 4.7% year over year, from 865 to 824..

The decrease reflects mortgage rates rising nearly 0.6 percentage points since early September to 7.46%, limited inventory in certain price ranges, and uncertainty before and following Florida’s Oct. 6 state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Isaias. Although South Florida was not among the 29 affected counties, hurricane threats can delay mortgage approvals, loan funding, and real estate closings.

Miami total home sales had increased year-over-year for 11 consecutive months before August 2026.

The sales total doesn’t include South Florida’s new construction, pre-construction and condo conversion sales because they are largely not reported in the MLS. But MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld led the charge to publish two new construction reports.

International buyers purchased 49% of new South Florida construction, pre-construction and condo conversion sales over an 18-month period ending in July 2025, according to MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld first-ever New Construction Global Sales Report in collaboration with industry leaders.

Our second New Construction Global Sales Report, published in November 2025, showed an increase in global sales and buyers from 73 countries, according to the MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld November 2025 Global Sales Report in collaboration with industry leaders.

The lack of Federal Housing Administration loans for many existing Miami condominium buildings is preventing further market strengthening. Of the 2,397 condominium buildings in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, only 21 are approved for FHA loans, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Just 0.9% of South Florida condo buildings are approved for FHA loans.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac eliminated the limited review option for many condo loans on Aug. 3, 2026. For decades, Florida condominium borrowers and owners faced stricter lending standards and higher financing hurdles than those in many other states. The updated guidelines are expected to create a more transparent and financially secure lending environment.

Miami-Dade Condominium Sale Prices Have Appreciated 267% Since 2011
Miami condo prices have increased 267% since 2011, from $113,800 to $417,090. Miami condos are a long-time national leader in price appreciation.

Prices decreased 0.69% year-over-year in September 2026, from $420,000 to $417,090. Condo inventory is declining year-over-year, which will put upward pressure on prices.

Miami condo median prices have stayed even or increased in 166 of the last 184 months (14+ years).

Miami-Dade County single-family home median sale prices increased 4.06% year-over-year in September 2026, from $665,000 to $692,000. Miami single-family median prices have risen in 175 of the last 179 months (14+ years).

Miami single-family prices have risen 300.7% since 2011, from $172,700 to $692,000.

MIAMI + RWorld Offering First-Time Homebuyer Grants to Support Housing Affordability
MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld supports its community through two foundations, including the RWorld Community Foundation, which is committed to expanding access to homeownership and helping families achieve financial stability. Over the past five years, the RWorld Foundation has contributed $180,000 toward closing costs for low-income South Florida homebuyers, helping reduce the upfront financial barriers to purchasing a home.

The RWorld Community Foundation offers eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing a residence in Broward, Palm Beach, or St. Lucie County grants of up to $2,500 toward closing costs. Grant guidelines include: applicants must be first-time homebuyers or have not owned a home in the past three years, must be employed and have low-income levels as defined by Florida Bond Program. More info: https://rworldcares.com/closing-costs-grant

MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld continues to support cross-sector stakeholder solutions – like removing obstacles to permitting and zoning, funding the Florida Hometown Heroes Program, and creating pathways for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) – to facilitate both the creation and preservation of safe and affordable housing.

Miami’s surging multifamily market and the Florida Live Local Act should boost affordability in the future. Southeast Florida ranks No. 1 in the U.S. for most multifamily construction, according to MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld Research. This is important because it adds more overall housing/apartment supply to a city, creates more affordability and adds to Miami’s economic growth.

Florida’s Live Local Act, which was passed in 2023 and amended in May 2024, is encouraging developers to build more affordable housing. The Live Local Act gives developers the highest density allowed in a local area if they allocate 40% of its units for affordable housing. The state law defines an affordable unit as being at or below 120% of an area’s median income.

Miami remains a bargain in comparison to other global cities. For $1M, homebuyers can purchase 58 square meters of prime property in Miami, according to the 2026 Knight Frank Wealth Report. That is almost four times more than Monaco (16 square meters), nearly two times more than New York (34) and London (33) and more than Paris (37), Tokyo (37) and more.

Elevated Mortgage Rates Climb Impacting Home Sales
Mortgage rates have risen nearly 0.6 percentage points since September 1, 2026 to 7.46% as of Oct. 13, 2026. Home sales are sensitive to mortgage rate increases.

A combination of inflationary pressures, federal debt and competition for investor capital is keeping rates elevated.

“We are continuing to see the negative impact of soaring mortgage rates on homebuyers, but upper-end buyers have remained active, with this trend likely to continue through next year as mortgage rates remain elevated,” MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld Chief Economist Gay Cororaton said.

Total Miami Inventory Declines for Eighth Consecutive Month
Total active listings at the end of September 2026 decreased 10.1% year-over-year, from 18,057 to 16,242. Decreasing supply means more buyer competition and upward price pressure.

Inventory of single-family homes decreased 16.6% year-over-year in September 2026 from 5,437 active listings last year to 4,536 last month.

Condo inventory declined for the eighth consecutive month. Condominium inventory decreased 7.24% year-over-year in September 2026, from 12,620 to 11,706 listings during the same period in 2025, but the total is still significantly below pre-pandemic.

Months’ supply of inventory for single-family homes is 5.1 months, which indicates a seller’s market. Inventory for existing condominiums is 12.3 months, which indicates a buyer’s market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers offers between six- and nine-months supply.

Nationally, total housing inventory is 1.60 million units, according to NAR. That is up 4.6% from September 2025. There is 4.8-month supply of unsold inventory, up from 4.5 months a year ago.

Miami Real Estate: $223 Million in Local Economic Impact
Every time a home is sold it impacts the economy: income generated from real estate industries (commissions, fees and moving expenses), expenditures related to home purchase (furniture and remodeling expenses), multiplier of housing related expenditures (income earned as a result of a home sale is re-circulated into the economy) and new construction (additional home sales induce added home production).

The total economic impact of a typical Florida home sale is $129,000, according to NAR. Miami-Dade sold 1,733 homes in September 2026 for a local economic impact of $223 million.

Miami-Dade total dollar volume increased 15.41% year-over-year in September 2026 to $1.8 billion.

Single-family home dollar volume increased 21.31% year-over-year to $1.2 billion. Condo dollar volume increased 7.13% year-over-year to $724 million.

Miami Distressed Sales Remain at Historic Lows, Reflecting Healthy Market
Only 0.5% of all closed residential sales in Miami were distressed last month, including REO (bank-owned properties) and short sales. In 2009, distressed sales comprised 70% of Miami sales.

Short sales and REOs accounted for 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively, of total Miami sales in September 2026.

State & National Sales
In Florida, closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 20,537 in September 2026, down 3.5% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 7,179, down 0.1%.

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $415,000, up 1.2% year-over-year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last month’s statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $293,500, down 1.8% vs. last year. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Nationally, total existing home sales increased 2.2% year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.99 million, according to NAR. Median existing home prices increased to $417,500, up 1.3% from one year ago ($412,300) – the 39th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.

Miami Real Estate Attracting Near List Price
The median percent of original list price received for single-family homes was 95% in September 2026. The median percent of original list price received for existing condominiums was 94%.

The median number of days between listing and contract dates for Miami single-family home sales was 41 days, up from 50 days last year. The median time to sale for single-family homes was 80 days, up from 89 days last year.

The median number of days between the listing date and contract date for condos was 67 days, up from 75 days. The median number of days to sale for condos was 102 days, up from 115 days.

Miami Cash Sales More than National Figure
Cash sales represented 38.3% of Miami closed sales in September 2026, compared to 35.2% in August 2025. About 27% of U.S. home sales are made in cash, according to the latest NAR statistics.

Cash buyers are not deterred by rising rates. The high percentage of cash buyers reflects Miami’s top position as the preeminent American real estate market for foreign buyers, who tend to purchase with all cash as well as some moving from more expensive U.S. markets who can buy more with their profits from real estate sales.

Cash sales accounted for 49.4% of all Miami existing condo sales and 26.2% of single-family transactions.

To access September 2026 Miami-Dade Statistical Reports, visit http://www.SFMarketIntel.com

Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system.

About MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld
MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld was chartered by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® in 1920, and is celebrating 106 years of service to REALTOR® members, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Composed of nine boards: Corporate Board of Directors, MIAMI REALTORS® Division, RWorld Division, MIAMI RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, BROWARD, PALM BEACH, ST. LUCIE & MARTIN, and YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK. MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld represent approximately 96,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local REALTOR® association in the world and has official partnerships with 308 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld, along with their respective Multiple Listing Services, MIAMI MLS and BeachesMLS, merged on May 11, 2026 in the largest merger in NAR history. The organization’s proposed new name will be Miami and South Florida REALTORS®, pending approval by NAR. Websites are www.miamiandrworld.com, www.MiamiRealtors.com and www.RWorld.com

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SOURCE MIAMI Association of REALTORS®