The Banker

Here is the rephrased section:

In a bold stroke of ingenuity, entrepreneurs Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) concocted a daring plan to take on the entrenched racism of 1960s America by empowering other African Americans to pursue their dreams. Alongside Garrett's wife Eunice (Nia Long), they orchestrate a clever scheme, training a working-class white man, Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult), to pose as the affluent face of their burgeoning real estate and banking empire - while Garrett and Morris assume the roles of a janitor and chauffeur. As their success snowballs, it inevitably catches the attention of the federal government, posing a significant threat to everything they've built.

Bernard's journey began in 1939, when he learned the ins and outs of banking by eavesdropping on customers and bankers outside a bank. His father had instilled confidence in him, but Bernard knew that his talents would amount to little in the racist Texas landscape. In 1954, he made the bold decision to leave for Los Angeles, where he started anew with his family and a burning desire to start a real estate business. With a keen eye for opportunity, Bernard discovered a gated community in an affluent white neighborhood, mere blocks away from its African American counterpart - and he knew that the demand for rental properties would be immense.

However, the asking price was prohibitively high, leaving Bernard with little wiggle room to renovate the properties. Eunice's astute business acumen led him to seek out Joe Morris as a co-investor, but their differing approaches - Joe's carefree nature contrasting sharply with Bernard's fastidiousness - made for an uneasy partnership.

The stage was set when Patrick Barker (Colm Meaney), the seller of the gated community, demanded $40,000. Bernard countered with an offer of $30,000, proposing to renovate the property and rent it to well-heeled African American doctors and lawyers who were forced to live in squalid conditions due to a lack of alternative options. This bold vision not only promised to increase occupancy rates from 50% to 100%, but also spoke to Bernard's deep-seated desire to create positive change.

Patrick, impressed by Bernard's unwavering confidence, agreed to help him secure a loan from the bank to cover the upfront costs. Joe, however, issued a stark warning: don't trust Patrick. Undeterred, Bernard hired Matt, a white man, to oversee the renovations on the "white" building, which had previously been resistant to his presence. As the original residents departed and the property transformed into a hub of activity for African American tenants, it became clear that Bernard's unyielding commitment to his vision was poised to leave an indelible mark on the landscape.

As Patrick's partnership offer expires, Bernard finds himself at a crossroads. With the condition that Patrick would be the public face and Bernard would remain behind the scenes, they pool their resources to acquire a dozen properties. Tragedy strikes when Patrick passes away, leaving Bernard to navigate the aftermath. Mrs. Barker (Rhoda Griffis), who had grown uncomfortable doing business with Bernard, offers him a meager 25% stake in their joint investments since his name wasn't associated with any of the properties.

Desperate for support, Bernard turns to the Banker who initially financed their partnership, but is rebuffed and told that Patrick's intentions would need to be proven through official documentation. Undeterred, Bernard approaches Joe with a plan to purchase the bank's building and utilize its resources to acquire properties in predominantly white neighborhoods across Los Angeles. He persuades Joe to hire Matt as the CEO of their company, which would simplify the process of acquiring assets. To prepare Matt for this role, they enroll him in courses on mathematics and golf, aiming to refine his demeanor and mannerisms to better fit the part.

With Donald Silverthorne (Paul Ben-Victor), a seasoned banker from San Francisco, financing their venture, Matt proves an adept student, effortlessly memorizing financial data and purchasing a $2 million property for a mere $1.56 million. Bernard embarks on a buying spree, amassing a staggering portfolio of over 200 buildings.

As Matt settles into his new role, he meets Susie (Taylor Black), the charming waitress from their local diner, and the two tie the knot. Meanwhile, Bernard's ambition continues to grow, and he sets his sights on purchasing a bank in his hometown of Texas, where racial segregation remains a prevalent issue. Despite Joe's warnings about the potential pitfalls, Bernard is resolute in his conviction that this venture could bring greater benefits to white communities.

Once again, Bernard and Joe employ Matt as their frontman to acquire the Mainland Bank. This time, they secure a deal that includes a job for Robert Florance Jr.'s (Scott Daniel Johnson) son as a loan officer, with a 20% stake in the bank's ownership. As the stakes grow higher, Bernard finds himself at the forefront of a complex and challenging business landscape.

As the truth begins to unravel, Robert discovers that Matt has been secretly approving loans to minority-owned homes and businesses, while Susie pressures him not to treat these individuals as employees. Meanwhile, Florence blows the whistle on Mainland's dubious activities, prompting a scheduled audit by the US Treasury in just a month's time. In a bid to circumvent the impending investigation, Matt proposes that Joe and Bernard buy out The Marlin Bank, allowing them to transfer the questionable loans onto its books. However, Bernard is initially hesitant, but eventually yields to pressure from Joe.

Matt takes the reins at Marlin, swiftly transferring the illicit loans onto its ledger. Just as the US Treasury official arrives to conduct the audit, Matt has a surprise in store - he's hired a lawyer recommended by Florence to purchase the questionable loans from Mainland and surreptitiously added a few that violated banking regulations. This move catches the auditor off guard, forcing Joe and Bernard to scramble to sell 27 of these problematic loans within a week, taking a $300K hit on their books in the process.

As the gravity of the situation becomes apparent, Joe and Bernard inform Matt that Marlin would have to cease operations to absorb the losses. In desperation, Matt proposes using Mainland's funds to buy back the troubled loans from the new bank at face value, effectively keeping it afloat - but this plan is nothing short of fraudulent. The US government seizes Mainland, arresting Joe and Bernard for their involvement.

Faced with an ultimatum: testify against his former partners or face imprisonment himself, Matt chooses to lie. In 1965, Joe and Bernard are convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to three years in prison. Of the 177 buildings they owned, only one remains untouched - a testament to Robert Florance's purchase of Mainland from the government at a fraction of its original cost for his father.