T. Denny Sanford
Thomas Denny Sanford (born December 23, 1935 in Saint Paul) is a South Dakota businessman and philanthropist. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of United National Corp.
Business ventures
Sanford made his fortune as the owner of First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, both among the nation's leading credit card providers. Premier Bankcard issues low-limit Mastercards and Visas to credit-impaired customers, charging higher-than-average interest rates and fees. The typical customer stays only 18 months before graduating to a better rate. "We provide a lifeline for credit-impaired people," Sanford told Forbes magazine.
The Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is named for him.
Philanthropy
BusinessWeek magazine listed him as one of the top-50 most generous philanthropists in November 2006.
On February 3, 2007, Sanford announced a $400 million gift to Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System, which renamed itself Sanford Health. Sanford's total philanthropic gifts have exceeded $500 million, and are generally geared toward improving the quality of life for children.
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