New Loan Production Office at Blue Economy Tech Hub AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles

Beneficial State Bank, a mission-driven community bank serving California, Oregon, and Washington, is now serving clients at and around the AltaSea campus at the Port of Los Angeles to support environmental changemakers and speed up the Blue Economy

Jan. 12, 2022, San Pedro, Calif. – Today, Beneficial State Bank unveiled its new loan production office at the AltaSea campus at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro focused on supporting clients in the Blue Economy. AltaSea is the nation’s largest Blue Economy tech hub, and a valued Beneficial State Bank client. The new location will enable the bank team to have a strong physical presence and mission-alignment with other environmental changemakers based at the San Pedro campus.

“We’re proud to be a tenant at AltaSea’s innovative campus and a member of its dynamic community of businesses, researchers, and educators,” said Monique Johnson, Director of Client & Community Partnerships at Beneficial State Bank and AltaSea board trustee. “As a financial institution dedicated to helping our planet, we know it’s essential to invest in the Blue Economy to power ocean-related solutions to climate change while creating new jobs on a local and global scale.”

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting was held at the AltaSea campus today, featuring remarks from Beneficial State Bank’s founder and Board Chair Kat Taylor, LA City Councilmember Tim McOsker, AltaSea Trustee and Giving Pledge Signatory Dr. Melanie Lundquist, and AltaSea CEO Terry Tamminen. AltaSea partners, like Eco Wave Power, RCAM and USC’s aquaculture lab, were present to display their sustainable technologies.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kat Taylor, Monique Johnson, and the rest of the Beneficial State Bank team to the AltaSea campus," said AltaSea President and CEO Terry Tamminen. "Beneficial State Bank's presence at AltaSea will speed up the growth of the blue economy by providing banking services specifically designed for environmentally-focused changemakers, from businesses to nonprofits alike. AltaSea is proud to be a client and partner with them."

"Banking services for environmental impact changemakers should align with the values and goals of those clients,” said Taylor. “Beneficial State Bank will continue to empower Southern California’s mission-driven clients and, through a new loan production office at Alta Sea, support a green-blue revolution to reform our economy, regenerate our planet, and bring equity to the frontline communities who deserve it."

The Bank has opened up locations in other environmental-focused ecosystems over the last few years, including Seattle’s Bullitt Center, Portland’s PAE Living Building, and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator campus.

Beneficial State Bank’s triple-bottom-line business goals include a pro-planet and community portfolio lending target of 75% or more of all loans and loan dollars to mission-aligned purposes. The remaining 25% of loans cannot work against the bank’s mission. For instance, the bank does not lend to fossil fuel companies, payday lenders, weapons suppliers or manufacturers, or private prisons. As of December 2021, the bank had nearly $800 million in mission-aligned loans outstanding, including $286 million in affordable housing and $67 million in economic, business, and job development categories.