Proud to be a new member of The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)

We are excited to announce that we joined a collaborative and international network of mission-aligned financial institutions and leaders called The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV). We are one of just a handful of banks invited to participate from the United States, including our colleagues and B Corp peers at Amalgamated Bank, Beneficial State Bank, and Sunrise Bank.

The collective goal of the GABV is “to make the banking system more transparent and support positive economic, social, and environmental change.”

The approach includes:

● Making the business case of values-based banks through thought leadership
● Setting the standard for triple-bottom-line finance through the GABV scorecard
● Addressing urgent challenges like climate change
● Driving systemic change through industry engagement
● Supporting leadership development through a leadership academy
● Sharing best practices at an annual conference and online gatherings

“We are excited to be joining an international network of like-minded banks. We hope to learn from other GABV banks about how to best utilize our unique position as capital providers to advance economic and climate justice. At the same time, we hope that we can contribute what we have learned over the past fifteen years as a mission-driven financial institution so that more of us in the financial services industry can be a part of the solution to economic justice and the climate crisis rather than part of the problem.”
— Demetris Giannoulias, CEO, Spring Bank

If you follow our story, you’ll know that we are continually working to improve how we increase access to capital and help people build generational wealth. When we opened our doors fifteen years ago, we were the first bank to headquarter in the Bronx in over 20 years, and we knew we needed to stay committed. At first, it wasn’t easy developing trust in the South Bronx, a community where many people had negative experiences with banks or had never opened a personal savings or checking account. We knew it would require time, relationship-building, and reliability. As our President and Compliance Officer, Eric Pallas, says, “we defied the odds.”

We quickly realized we needed to join arms and learn alongside like-minded financial institutions that also balance profit and mission goals. Part of what holds us accountable to our mission of financial inclusion is the B Corp and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) communities. We are grateful to now also be held accountable by an international network of banking peers at the GABV. Learn more about The Global Alliance for Banking on Values here. Follow their work on LinkedIn here. Explore why we are one of the best community banks in Bronx, New York.