Bankers doing good: Uplifting stories from a downbeat year

For better or worse, financial firms are often cast as villains, but in this year marked by pandemic, economic hardship and protests over racial injustice, they have often been a force for good. Here are 11 stories (and one gallery) of how banks, fintechs and others in the industry stepped up in 2020 to address inequality and help employees, customers and communities in need.

The new bankers' hours: Long nights and weekends

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Stress and exhaustion are catching up to lenders and call center employees helping customers grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

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9 ways financial organizations are aiding battle against coronavirus

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Funneling fees from emergency loans to feed the hungry. Supporting psychological counseling for health care heroes and financial advice for the poor. Backing retrofits of customer operations to produce protective gear for front-line medical personnel. Bankers and financial educators have tossed out the traditional playbook to help clients and communities in crisis.

(Full story here.)

Going the extra mile to help minority-owned businesses weather pandemic

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Uwharrie Capital in North Carolina and Valley National in New York used their community connections to seek out small companies in need of loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. They found plenty of them.

(Full story here.)

Community bank works with Mark Cuban to help expedite stimulus funds

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Motivated by the entrepreneur and TV celebrity, Citizens Bank of Edmond is offering an overdraft line to give customers quick access to cash they will eventually receive from the federal government.

(Full story here.)

Ally's play for (very new) customers

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The digital-only bank is running a new promotion in which it will set up and fund, with $250, an online savings account for any baby born on New Year's Eve.

(Full story here.)

N.C. bank turns to Black colleges to broaden recruitment

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Piedmont Federal Savings is working with historically Black colleges and universities to hire and train prospective commercial lenders and managers who better reflect the community it serves.

(Full story here.)

Black-owned banks band together to finance pro sports facility

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Their $35 million refinancing of the Atlanta Hawks' training complex is being touted as the first time that a professional sports team has secured a loan underwritten exclusively by Black banks.

(Full story here.)

Banks ramp up child care, home schooling support for working parents

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As their employees continue to navigate the challenges of balancing work and home life during a pandemic, banks are pitching in to offer everything from child care reimbursement to nanny placement to tutoring services.

(Full story here.)

How DoorDash and a challenger bank helped rescue a restaurant

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The owner of The Shuckery in Petaluma, Calif., says she was unable to get a Paycheck Protection Program loan until she responded to an email from the delivery service and BlueVine.

(Full story here.)

Citi tries new tack to push its social agenda: Venture investing

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Ed Skyler, the bank's global head of public affairs, says a newly established $150 million fund will make equity investments in firms seen as having a positive impact on society.

(Full story here.)

How banks aim to close the racial wealth gap: More minorities in leadership

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The pressure is on for banks to help Black and Hispanic households build net worth. Many say that starts with diversifying the ranks of middle and upper management.

(Full story here.)

Chime expands coronavirus stimulus check advances to 100,000 customers

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Customers in the challenger bank's pilot program drew down an average of $200 each in advance of the government's $1,200 payments.

(Full story here.)
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