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Lauderdale Lakes staff propose switching city purchasing-card program to TD Bank
Summary
City staff recommended the commission authorize a switch of Lauderdale Lakes’ purchasing-card program from Bank of America to TD Bank, citing a lower $500,000 qualification threshold for rebates (vs. $1,000,000 under the current program), dedicated local service, and cooperative purchasing advantages; the item is on the Dec. 23 agenda for formal consideration.
Lauderdale Lakes staff presented a proposal to move the city’s purchasing-card (P-card) program from Bank of America to TD Bank at a City Commission workshop on Dec. 22, 2025. The change would rely on a cooperative contract competitively awarded by the city of Deerfield Beach and included a staff recommendation to place a resolution on the commission’s Dec. 23 agenda for formal action.
Azam Pekrawala, procurement administrator for the City of Lauderdale Lakes, told commissioners the city’s current contract with Bank of America expires “in sometime early January, January 4, I believe,” and that staff reviewed a cooperative contract option that staff considers “favorable towards the city.” Pekrawala said TD Bank representatives were present to answer questions and to outline program details.
Cheryl Lehi, acting assistant director for finance, said the biggest financial benefit is access to a rebate program at a lower city qualification threshold. “Basically the biggest benefit that the city would have is being able to participate in the rebate program,” Lehi said, adding that under the city’s Bank of America arrangement the city must spend $1,000,000 annually to participate, a level the city does not currently meet. Lehi said the TD Bank cooperative allows participation at $500,000 in annual spend and that the city would benefit from pooled volume among cooperative members to access higher rebate rates.
TD Bank representatives described devoted local service and the cooperative structure. Pamela Ramkalawan, who identified herself as the relationship manager for the city, said, “I will be the relationship manager for the city, and that's my entire job,” and introduced Andrea and a support team who would assist the city. Andrea (TD Bank) walked commissioners through the cooperative arrangement led by Deerfield Beach, explained tiered rebate percentages tied to pooled spend, and said that with multiple participants the group’s combined spend could surpass $10,000,000 “in short order,” which would raise rebate tiers. Andrea also pointed commissioners to a rebate schedule included in the meeting packet.
Staff and TD Bank officials identified the cooperative contract (referencing Deerfield Beach’s competitive award and RFP) as the vehicle for the P-card program. Staff provided a proposed qualification start point of March 1, 2026, and indicated the city’s minimum annual spend threshold to qualify for the cooperative rebate would be $500,000. The procurement presentation emphasized local relationship management and a customer service model distinct from a national call center.
No formal vote occurred at the workshop. The resolution to authorize the acting city manager to establish the TD Bank P-card program appeared on the commission’s Dec. 23 agenda for formal consideration and possible adoption. Staff noted the existing Bank of America contract’s early-January expiration date as an implementation timing consideration; staff characterized that date as approximate.
Next steps: commissioners will consider Resolution 2025-170 at the Dec. 23 City Commission meeting; staff said they would be available to answer follow-up questions and that TD Bank representatives could provide additional details if requested.
