Artificial Intelligence and Banking
Artificial intelligence is often presented as an objective tool for decision-making, but recent research suggests that AI may replicate the same racial biases already present in the banking industry. As lenders adopt these technologies, questions about fairness, transparency, and accountability are becoming more important than ever.
Interview with Jon Mulkin
In this interview, Hope Credit Union Chief Mortgage Officer Jon Mulkin reflects on four decades in mortgage lending, from leading home loan operations at Morgan Stanley to helping first-time homebuyers build wealth through Hope’s mission-driven approach. He shares insights on affordable housing, community development, racial equity, and the future of mortgage lending in underserved communities.
City Survey: Greater Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles is one of the most diverse and economically unequal regions in the country. Fortunately, it is also home to a wide range of community banks and credit unions committed to expanding access to capital through affordable housing, small business lending, and community development. Explore some of the best Better Banking Options serving Los Angeles and Orange County.
Our Response to Hope's 2022 Impact Report
Hope Credit Union’s 2022 Impact Report demonstrates what mission-driven banking can accomplish when lending is focused on people traditionally excluded from financial opportunity. From first-time homebuyers to Black-owned businesses, Hope continues to invest in communities overlooked by conventional lenders.
A Reflection On Our Trip with Hope Credit Union
What does community banking look like in practice? On a trip through the Deep South with Hope Credit Union, we met civil rights leaders, visited community development projects, and saw firsthand how mission-driven lending can help create economic opportunity in communities affected by generations of discrimination and disinvestment.
Why You Should Be Banking With Credit Union of Atlanta
Credit Union of Atlanta is a Black-led, community-focused credit union serving government employees, church communities, and their families in Atlanta. With branches in low-income neighborhoods and a commitment to financial inclusion, it’s a great option for those looking to support local economic development while accessing affordable banking services.
City Survey: San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland (Bay Area)
The Bay Area is home to some of the most innovative and mission-driven financial institutions in the country. Whether you’re looking to support immigrant communities, affordable housing, small businesses, or environmentally responsible lending, these Better Banking Options in San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland offer a meaningful alternative to the mega banks.
Why You Should Be Banking With Gateway Bank, FSB
Gateway Bank is a small, community-focused bank headquartered in Oakland’s Chinatown that serves immigrant and low-income communities throughout the Bay Area. With a strong focus on housing lending and local investment, it stands out as one of the best Better Banking Options in Northern California.
City Survey: Washington, DC
Washington, DC, has a surprisingly rich landscape of Better Banking Options, from Black-owned banks and immigrant-focused credit unions to cooperative lenders and community development institutions. This city survey highlights mission-driven banks and credit unions helping strengthen neighborhoods across the nation’s capital.
Why You Should Be Banking With Brooklyn Cooperative FCU
Brooklyn Cooperative FCU is a mission-driven credit union serving low-income and historically underserved neighborhoods in Brooklyn through affordable banking services and community-focused lending.
Latine Banks To Move Your Money To TODAY
Latine-majority banks play an essential role in providing banking services, lending, and financial access to communities that have historically been underserved by traditional institutions. Here are some of the best-known Latine-majority banks in the United States.
Why You Should Be Banking With Rio Bank
Rio Bank is a locally rooted Texas bank helping strengthen Latine-majority communities through small business lending, housing loans, and regional economic investment.
Why You Should Be Banking With First Carolina People’s Credit Union
First Carolina People’s Credit Union is a locally focused North Carolina credit union providing essential banking services and quality lending in rural and underserved communities.
City Survey: Detroit
Detroit offers several Better Banking Options focused on community lending, Black economic empowerment, and wealth-building loans for local families.
Why You Should Be Banking With First Independence Bank
First Independence Bank is Detroit’s only Black-owned bank, investing in Black communities through housing loans, small business lending, and local banking services.
Why You Should Be Banking With Tri-State Bank of Memphis
Tri-State Bank of Memphis is a historic Black-owned CDFI and MDI that has supported Black homeownership, churches, and civil rights efforts for decades.
Why You Should Be Banking With Local Bank
Local Bank is a Cherokee-owned CDFI investing deposits back into Native communities across Northeast Oklahoma through housing and community lending.
Why You Should Be Banking With Orion Federal Credit Union
Orion Federal Credit Union is a Memphis-based LICU and CDFI focused on local lending, community investment, and accessible banking services.
Why You Should Be Banking With United Bank of Philadelphia
United Bank of Philadelphia is a Black-led CDFI and MDI making major investments in small business lending and financial equity across Philadelphia.
Why You Should Be Banking With MariSol Federal Credit Union
MariSol Federal Credit Union is a Phoenix-based CDFI and LICU providing accessible banking, fair lending, and financial inclusion for Spanish-speaking communities.