Better Banking Blog

How Values-Based Banking Can Support Social Justice

Banking with values-based financial institutions can go a long way toward fighting systemic racism and injustice.

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About The Better Banking Blog

We are guided by a simple aspiration: benefit to all, harm to none. This means investing in and serving our local communities, contributing to environmental sustainability, offering inclusive, fair, and equitable more products, and nurturing our team. In the Better Banking Blog, we explore what a Beneficial Banking™ system looks like and how it can serve all of us.

Client Spotlight: Salsas Locas: A Latina-Owned Restaurant with Good Food and a Big Heart Lucy de Leon stands in the patio at Salsas Locas smiling

Client Spotlight

Salsas Locas: A Latina-Owned Restaurant with Good Food and a Big Heart

From 7-year-old migrant farm worker to successful food entrepreneur: Meet Lucy De Leon.

Sep 24, 2024

Client Spotlight: Ground Up: A Nut Butter Company Lifting Up Womxn Ground Up Co-founders, Julie and Carolyn, posing with jars of their nut butter.

Client Spotlight

Ground Up: A Nut Butter Company Lifting Up Womxn

What sets Ground Up apart is not just their innovative flavors, but also their commitment to social responsibility.

Jul 30, 2024

Client Spotlight: Rain City Fit: Building an Inclusive Fitness Movement in Seattle People cheer on a participant in a powerlifting competition in the street in Seattle

People cheer on a participant in a powerlifting competition in the street in Seattle

Client Spotlight

Rain City Fit: Building an Inclusive Fitness Movement in Seattle

In the bustling streets of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, a unique fitness community is thriving.

Jun 12, 2024

Client Spotlight: River Valley Community Solar Project: Bringing Low-cost Solar Power to LMI Communities Aerial view of the River Valley Community Solar Project

Aerial view of the River Valley Community Solar Project

Client Spotlight

River Valley Community Solar Project: Bringing Low-cost Solar Power to LMI Communities

Meet Stephen Gates, founder of Neighborhood Power, a renewable energy micro utility that provides affordable solar...

Apr 25, 2024

Client Spotlight: How an SBA loan helped Christopher Benson expand his guitar amp business, Benson Amps Christopher Benson holds guitar while adjusting amplifier equipment in a studio

Christopher Benson holds guitar while adjusting amplifier equipment in a studio

Client Spotlight

How an SBA loan helped Christopher Benson expand his guitar amp business, Benson Amps

Benson Amps is a Portland-based guitar amplifier manufacturer that makes high-quality guitar amps and sells them...

Apr 04, 2024

Client Spotlight: Place to B: A Hub for Impact-led Work Place to B logo

Client Spotlight

Place to B: A Hub for Impact-led Work

Place to B is a community hub and incubator space for values-aligned businesses and nonprofits in the Portland...

Mar 19, 2024

Client Spotlight: Exilior Coffee: A B Corp Improving Livelihoods for Kenyan Coffee Farmers Francis Kungu holds a bag of Exilior Coffee

Client Spotlight

Exilior Coffee: A B Corp Improving Livelihoods for Kenyan Coffee Farmers

Kenyan coffee farmers have faced challenges for decades, but Exilior Coffee is working to restore small Kenyan...

Mar 12, 2024

Partner Spotlight: Doing Good Works – Changing Foster Youth Outcomes Through Business Four Doing Good Works team members pose at a company party with photobooth accessories with affirming statements.

Four Doing Good Works team members pose at a company party with photobooth accessories with affirming statements.

Partner Spotlight

Doing Good Works – Changing Foster Youth Outcomes Through Business

DGW Branded and Foster Greatness are proving that leading with heart yields higher performance.

Feb 29, 2024

Client Spotlight: Aprende con Amigos – How a Spanish immersion preschool expanded with the help of an SBA loan Two preschool children working on a craft in a classroom

Two preschool children working on a craft in a classroom

Client Spotlight

Aprende con Amigos – How a Spanish immersion preschool expanded with the help of an SBA loan

Stacey Dunbar is the founder and owner of Aprende con Amigos, a research-based Spanish immersion preschool in...

Feb 15, 2024

Choose a Bank that Invests in Tomorrow

Beneficial State Bank serves the triple-bottom-line of people, planet, and prosperity for all. That means prioritizing social justice and environmental sustainability. Our clients want to see their money put to good use – funding causes that defend our planet and build resiliency in our communities. Change your bank and help change the world.

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