Following the financial meltdown and bank bailouts, two B Corps are showing that it’s OK to love a bank. Sunrise Community Banks, which operates three banks in St. Paul, Minn., is one of only 62 certified Community Development Financial Institution banks in the nation. The family- owned company, which is devoted to serving economically distressed [...]

In his New York Times article, “Banks Grow Weary of Environmental Risks”, Tom Zeller Jr. describes recent trends by a number of global banking conglomerates to reduce their exposure to environmentally destructive borrowers.  While unable to commit to a complete cutting of the umbilical cord with companies that are “blasting off mountaintops to reach coal” [...]

Life is unpredictable and sometimes you need financial help. However, with employers no longer offering to give salary advances, for many pay-day loans have become the only option. These lenders charge exorbitant interest rates and demand repayment within two weeks. This often leads to the accumulation of larger debt. Last year over 20 million Americans [...]

President Obama signed into law yesterday the Dodd-Frank Bill, financial reform legislation that is both a response to the recent near economic meltdown and an attempt to prevent similar disasters in the future. Before listing highlights of the bill, here are a few broad-based thoughts.  First, there is an old saw to the effect that generals are [...]

We invite you to Better Know Sunrise Community Bank of St. Paul, Minnesota, a certified B Corporation since June 2009. Based on the premise that social responsibility is their duty, the three banks comprising the Sunrise Bank family develop strong, urban communities through innovative banking.This B Corporations invests in inner-city neighborhoods and has recently been [...]

I would encourage you to read the recent interview of President Obama in the New York Times magazine.  (Full interview, click here.)  The first part of the interview is entitled “The Future of Finance.”  The President has some encouraging things to say, but I can’t help feeling disappointed in the overall tone and substance of [...]

This past spring, eleven of the world’s leading sustainable banks created a new alliance to build a positive alternative to a global financial system in crisis (full press release below).  These banks have assets of over $10B and serve over 7 million customers in 20 countries.  (See list below)  Many have been around for decades.  [...]