-
The Unsung Backbone: How Community Financial Institutions Support Childcare and Adultcare Providers
By Tamra Thetford In the intricate community infrastructure web, childcare and adultcare services often operate behind the scenes, yet they are foundational to economic stability and social well-being. These services enable parents to participate in the workforce, support the aging population, and foster intergenerational connections. However, providers in these sectors frequently encounter financial hurdles that…
-
Turn Cash into Community Impact: Build Trust and Loyalty Through a Community-Focused Cash Management Strategy
When a company steps up to support the community that supports it, something remarkable happens. Trust deepens. Loyalty grows. Communities become advocates. More businesses are discovering that investing in local communities does more than help people; it fuels brand strength and business resilience. It shows customers, employees and partners that your company stands for more…
-
How Strategic Deposits Build Resilient Communities: 4 Lessons From Industry Leaders
When a hurricane, wildfire, or flood hits, what happens to the local small businesses, farmers, and families left in its wake? And what role can finance teams play in getting those communities back on their feet, faster? These questions were at the heart of a recent webinar hosted by Cat Berman, CEO of CNote, with…
-
Unlocking the Full Potential of CDFIs: What’s Holding Them Back and How We Move Forward
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are no longer just niche players in the financial ecosystem—they’re increasingly viewed as critical infrastructure for inclusive economic growth. But as the latest New York Fed podcast series on “CDFIs: Serving the Underserved and Making Missing Markets” makes clear, their potential is far from fully realized. As conversations about equitable…
-
3 Ways Foundations Can Maximize Their Impact with CNote
For foundations, every dollar matters. Whether it’s funding local initiatives, empowering underserved communities, or advancing crucial research, your capital needs to work as hard as your mission. But what if your foundation’s funds could do more than just sit in an account waiting to be spent? What if every dollar could earn returns while helping…
-
How Your Idle Cash Can Empower Your Local Community
Many institutions hold cash that isn’t actively generating value for their business or the greater economy. This idle cash often sits in low-yield accounts or accounts that don’t drive impact in the community, leaving opportunities to support your local economy untapped. But what if this idle cash could be put to work, not only benefiting…
-
The First Dollar: Why Pre-Development Lending Is the Unsung Hero of Affordable Housing
By Tamra Thetford When people think of affordable housing, they often picture the finished product: ribbon cuttings, newly housed families, and revitalized neighborhoods. But behind every successful project is an unsung hero—pre-development lending—the financial spark that makes it all possible. This initial phase—covering site acquisition, market studies, environmental assessments, architectural designs, and securing permits—represents just…
-
Investing for Returns and Real-World Outcomes
When most people think about investing, the first word that comes to mind is returns. And investing for returns makes sense. For decades, the core goal of investing has been to grow wealth, preserve capital, and generate income. But increasingly, individual investors are beginning to ask a new question: What is my money doing while…
-
How Community Banks Are Challenging Traditional Banks on Yield — And Why It Matters
When it comes to managing institutional cash, yield matters — but so does impact. Today’s treasury and finance leaders are increasingly seeking both competitive returns and opportunities to align their deposits with community impact. CNote’s latest Impact Cash® Money Market Rate Card demonstrates that community banks and mission-driven depository institutions are not only competitive but…
-
The Hidden Cost of Disaster Relief: How Disasters Strain Local Economies
When disaster strikes—be it a hurricane, flood, wildfire, or tornado—the physical damage is obvious: homes reduced to rubble, businesses shuttered, and entire communities uprooted. But beyond the wreckage lies an often-overlooked reality: the lasting financial toll on local economies, especially in underserved or rural areas. Disaster relief isn’t just about rebuilding—it’s about economic resilience, and…
Blog
Where finance meets impact.