Page 5 - March 2019 NBY News

great place to bank if you care about the planet
is California-based Beneficial State Bank, which
distributes its profits to local community and
sustainable development projects. Aspiration, an
Dear EarthTalk: After reading an online-only bank that stays green not just by
EarthTalk piece on climate divestment, I’m foregoing brick-and-mortar branch locations but
looking to switch my checking and savings also by investing only in businesses and
accounts to an environmentally friendly institutions that have sworn off fossil fuels, is
bank. Any ideas? – Bill Kim, Troy, NY yet another green choice. Still other responsible
options include: City First Bank of DC, First
Few of us think about how our banking Green Bank, the Missoula Federal Credit Union,
affects the environment but, in reality, New Resource Bank, Southern Bancorp and
putting your money with a green-minded Verity Credit Union. U.S. citizens can open
financial institution may be one of the best online accounts with any of these banks.
things you can do to help conserve land,
protect air and water, save endangered To find more banks and credit unions that
wildlife and mitigate climate change. Banks worry about achieving a so-called “triple
(owned by shareholders) and credit unions bottom line” (financial, social and
(owned by the customers) lend and invest environmental gains), check out the website of
some of the deposited funds they are the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, an
holding, which is how
they’re able to pay
interest back to you. A
bank or credit union that
limits its investments to
sustainability-oriented
companies and
institutions is well on its
way to being considered
green.
“Money has power—it
allows people and
businesses to meet their
needs and act on their
beliefs,” says Laurie
Fielder of the Vermont Money Handlers
State Employees Credit
Union (VSECU), a leading “green” credit independent network of banks using finance to
union in Vermont. “Your credit union or deliver sustainable economic, social and
bank has a lot of power in determining who environmental development. Only 11 of the 48
has access to money, which means they banks around the world that qualify as members
determine which ideas and businesses are of this Netherlands-based non-profit are U.S.-
empowered.” She adds that individuals based, but industry analysts expect many more
investing in energy savings at home, or American banks will start to go green given
businesses committed to sustainable increasing public demand for putting our money
operations, are ideal loan candidates for where our mouths are.
VSECU, given its underlying commitment to
ethical practices that benefit the community. CONTACTS: “How are activists using
divestment to fight climate change?”
New York-based Amalgamated Bank emagazine.com/divesting-fossil-fuels/; VSECU,
started in 1923 to open up quality and www.vsecu.com; Amalgamated Bank,
affordable banking services to the masses, www.amalgamatedbank.com; Sunrise Banks,
and has been serving working people and www.sunrisebanks.com; Beneficial State Bank,
their families ever since. In the modern era, www.beneficialstatebank.com; Aspiration,
Amalgamated considers environmental www.aspiration.com; Global Alliance for
sustainability a key component of its overall Banking on Values, www.gabv.org.
investment criteria, refusing “to invest our STOP SENIOR SCAMS
own dollars in funds that harm people or the Ask your bank or credit union what their
planet.” Amalgamated offers a full suite of stance on environmental finances are...then you ACTING PROGRAM La Mirada Theatre
banking and investment services to can determine if this is a good location for your Update on Page 23
individuals, businesses, non-profits and funds to be kept.
institutions. Tickets can be purchased at website,
1-800-273-8255 www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling
press 1 for Vets the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562)
Likewise, Minnesota-based Sunrise Bank 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Student and
offers a full suite of personal and commercial EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy 1-800-273-8255 Senior discounts are available.
banking services and invests customer Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE
deposits in sustainable and community nonprofit EarthTalk. To donate, visit Share the PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900
development projects that return high yields www.earthtalk.org. Send questions Resources La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, ( 91
financially and environmentally. Another to: question@earthtalk.org. and 5 freeways meet) Parking is free.

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