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Celebrating Our Journey: A Year of Innovation & Inspiration
This week marks another birthday for CNote—and with it, a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, the momentum we’ve built, and where we’re heading next. From an early vision of financial innovation for good, CNote has grown into a trusted platform for values-aligned investing—serving institutional and individual clients, expanding our suite of products,…
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Social Determinants of Health and Community Finance
By Tamra Thetford The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They include the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and they shape overall well-being just as much—if not more—than medical care. Community Financial Institutions address the social determinants of health by investing in…
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How One CDFI Credit Union Is Helping Families Avoid Foreclosure and Stay in Their Homes
When a Crisis Hit, a Mission-Driven Financial Institution Stepped In The pandemic disrupted lives across the world—and for Christine V., it was the spark that set off a chain of challenges. She lost her job, her kids got sick, and over time, she found herself more than $33,000 behind on her mortgage payments. On the…
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Are Corporations Leaving Money on the Table by Overlooking Community Banks?
In today’s economic climate, uncertainty is a given. Interest rates are fluctuating, markets are shifting, and corporate finance teams are being asked to do more with less—while still preserving capital, ensuring liquidity, and managing risk. In times like these, the way companies manage their cash matters more than ever. Many corporations are reevaluating their treasury…
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Why Geography Matters: Rethinking Where You Bank
When most people think about where to keep their money, they focus on interest rates, digital convenience, or brand familiarity. Rarely do we consider geography — the physical location of a bank or credit union — as an important factor in that decision. But geography plays a surprisingly powerful role in how your money is…
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florrent and CNote: A Mission-Driven Partnership for Impactful Treasury Management
florrent is a minority-led, Massachusetts-based startup pioneering high-performance energy storage solutions. Their next-generation supercapacitors provide a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional power quality and reliability technologies, ensuring firm power at every level of the grid. More than an energy innovator, florrent is committed to reshaping the clean energy economy to benefit all communities, building…
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How Genesis Helped Shalom House Transform a Historic Property into Supportive Housing for People with Substance Use Disorder
In 2018, the closure of Serenity House, a long-running sober living facility in Portland, left a critical gap in housing and treatment resources for local individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder. The historic property at 30 Mellen Street had been a beacon of hope, but, empty, it highlighted Portland’s pressing need for supportive housing…
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Where Your Money Actually Goes: The Hidden Power of Depositing in Community Banks
When you place funds in a bank, what happens next? Most people assume their money just sits there until they need it. But in reality, every deposit has the potential to power businesses, support families, and strengthen local economies—if it’s placed in the right hands. Community banks and credit unions are leading the way when…
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Bridging Impact and Investment: Insights from 2024 Investor Engagement and Annual Reporting
Understanding what resonates with investors is essential to directing more mission-aligned capital to mission-driven depository institutions (DIs) making a difference in underserved communities. To deepen this understanding, CNote recently analyzed investor engagement across multiple channels to identify the impact themes that consistently drive interest and investment. There is a key opportunity to build on this…
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How Long Does It Take for a Community to Recover After a Natural Disaster? The Answer May Surprise You
It can take years—sometimes even decades—for a community to fully recover after a natural disaster. While emergency aid and media attention often fade within weeks, research shows that long-term recovery efforts typically span six to ten years, with some communities still struggling decades later (Urban). The timeline depends on the severity of the disaster, the…
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Where finance meets impact.