Category: Community Partners
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Meet Carver Federal Savings Bank, The Harlem-Headquartered CDFI Offering Tailored Small Business Lending
Lloyd Doaman has dedicated his life to community development. He began his career in finance at JPMorgan Investment Management before pivoting to community development financial institutions (CDFIs), where he helped to provide access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and credit unions. Over three years ago, Lloyd had the opportunity to join…
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Where Are They Now? A Check In with Cortaiga Collins
Cortaiga Collins: Redefining Community Impact When we first introduced Cortaiga Collins in 2021, she was on the verge of a major milestone: opening the doors to a new, state-of-the-art facility for her thriving childcare business, Good Shepherd Preschool and Infant/Toddler Center. At the time, her story captivated readers as she shared her journey from being…
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Great Lakes Credit Union: Filling a Banking Desert in Chicago’s Austin Neighborhood
The Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, home to nearly 100,000 residents, has long been a financial services desert. For decades, its residents were forced to rely on predatory payday lenders or travel outside their community to access basic financial services. This lack of access perpetuated cycles of poverty, leaving residents vulnerable to financial insecurity.…
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Meet Piedmont Community Services, The Behavioral Health Service Provider Taking Care of Its Community
Greg Preston always wanted to return to his hometown and give back to his community. At first, Greg worked at the local Department of Social Services. Now, 25 years later? Greg is the organizations executive director.
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At Hope Credit Union, Climate Change Is The Deep South’s Wealth-Building Opportunity Of A Lifetime
When it comes to our shared climate reality, Hope Credit Union’s members are familiar with the ever-expanding narrative. After all, they’re living it. Across the Deep South, summers are getting hotter, power outages are becoming more common, and electric vehicles (EV) are being plugged into more and more homes. Members, however, aren’t just experiencing these…
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Meet Clean Energy Credit Union, The Member-Owned Cooperative Making It Easier For Everyone To Access Affordable Green Lending
Like the majority of people, Nicole Burford sometimes feels weighed down by the challenges presented by climate change. But as someone who’s long been passionate about environmental protection and sustainability, Nicole has found a way to keep her chin up. “When we think about what we can control as an individual,” she said, “we can…
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For Opportunities Credit Union, Energy Efficiency Loans Help Low-Income Individuals Save Money—And Combat Climate Change
Over the span of 48 hours in mid-July 2023, most of Vermont was battered with record amounts of rainfall, resulting in catastrophic flash flooding. As the state’s rivers swelled, homes were submerged, roads and bridges were washed out, and, tragically, at least two lives were lost. The 500-year flooding event devastated communities across The Green…
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From Farm To City: How ChoiceOne Bank is Championing Michigan Agribusiness
ChoiceOne Bank’s vision isn’t a secret: it’s front and center on its website. “We want to be the best bank in Michigan,” said Adom Greenland, the bank’s chief financial officer. “That means really making an impact in our communities.” ChoiceOne Bank was established in 1898 as a farm bank, and the bank operates in some…
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How Asian Bank Is Providing Personalized Support To Philadelphia’s Small Business Owners
In a word, Tina Miao-Granatt would describe her life as “blessed.” Her family moved from Taiwan to Philadelphia when she was 12 years old. There, her parents owned and operated a successful Chinese restaurant. As the small business grew and grew, so too did Tina’s list of responsibilities, from dishwasher, to busser, to waitress. Although…
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Meet Beardstown Savings, The Community Bank That’s Speaking The Same Language As Its Multilingual Community
Rich Eckert never expected to become the president and CEO of a community bank. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-native aspired to work in collegiate athletic administration, which he did for a short while before moving with his wife to her hometown of Beardstown, Illinois to start a family. However, a chance encounter with the then head executive…