Sustainable Banking for Congregations, an Update
In our participation at recent UUA webinars, several attendees asked about our presentation on Sustainable Banking for Congregations made at the 2025 General Assembly.
For background, a sustainable bank is a financial institution that integrates environmental, social, and governance principles into its core operations. Unlike conventional banks, sustainable banks often prioritize lending and investment practices that support renewable energy, affordable housing, community development, social enterprises, and environmentally responsible businesses. An organization might consider using a sustainable bank because:
- Mission alignment: The bank’s lending practices reflect the organization’s values (e.g., supporting clean energy instead of fossil fuels).
- Community impact: Deposits may directly support local economic development, affordable housing, or sustainability projects.
- Risk management: Banks with sustainable frameworks may assess long-term risks (like climate change) more proactively than traditional institutions.
Challenges for sustainable banks include they tend to be smaller and offer fewer business services and products, and may be harder to find outside of major metropolitan areas. You’ll find a recording of the presentation on our UUCEF.org site here, and the presentation materials here. Randy Webb from the Fund’s Investment Committee and our Senior Investment Officer Mathew Jensen lead the effort. In addition to the helpful resources referenced in the presentation, a new resource for locating and researching sustainable banks recently came to our attention: Find a Better Bank or Credit Union. We found it thorough, the screening useful and the results helpful.