Category: Community Banking
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Where Your Money Actually Goes: The Hidden Power of Depositing in Community Banks
When you place funds in a bank, what happens next? Most people assume their money just sits there until they need it. But in reality, every deposit has the potential to power businesses, support families, and strengthen local economies—if it’s placed in the right hands. Community banks and credit unions are leading the way when
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How Long Does It Take for a Community to Recover After a Natural Disaster? The Answer May Surprise You
It can take years—sometimes even decades—for a community to fully recover after a natural disaster. While emergency aid and media attention often fade within weeks, research shows that long-term recovery efforts typically span six to ten years, with some communities still struggling decades later (Urban). The timeline depends on the severity of the disaster, the
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Why Values-Based Cash Management Matters
In today’s business environment, cash management is not just about maximizing returns and maintaining liquidity—it’s also about aligning financial strategies with organizational values. Values-based cash management is gaining momentum as more organizations realize the significant impact their financial decisions can have on the communities they serve. At the forefront of this movement are community banks
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Where Values Meet Finance: Prime Coalition’s Strategic Partnership with CNote in Action
Prime Coalition (Prime) is a nonprofit organization on a mission to unlock catalytic capital and change the future of climate finance. “We’ve been catalyzing climate solutions for over a decade, enabling innovation that holds the potential of mitigating gigaton-scale greenhouse gas emissions” says Prime. In 2023, Prime partnered with CNote to help achieve their
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6 Ways to Explore Impact Investing
Impact investing is gaining traction as more individuals seek ways to align their financial decisions with their values. Rather than focusing solely on financial returns, impact investing provides opportunities to support businesses, funds, and initiatives that drive positive social and environmental change. If you are exploring impact investing, understanding the landscape and available options can
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Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: How Access to Capital Fuels Business Growth
As we celebrate Women’s Month this March, we take a moment to recognize the resilience, innovation, and impact of women entrepreneurs. Across industries, women-owned businesses are making a difference in their communities, creating jobs, and driving economic growth. Yet, for many women, access to capital remains a critical challenge. Securing funding is often the biggest
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Values-Based Cash Management: A Purposeful Approach to Cash Management
In today’s financial landscape, corporations and foundations are seeking ways to align their financial strategies with their broader missions. One emerging approach is values-based cash management, a strategy that ensures where and how cash is held supports both financial goals and broader societal impact. By thoughtfully managing liquidity, organizations can help build stronger local communities
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CNote’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Program: Supporting Underserved Communities in Times of Need
Natural disasters strike without warning, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In the United States, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters have been steadily increasing, affecting millions of individuals and communities each year. These events disproportionately impact underserved communities, as they often lack the resources and financial stability to prepare for and
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Supporting Small Businesses:The Critical Role of Community Banking
Small businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, driving innovation, creating jobs, and building community identity. However, they often face significant challenges—chief among them is access to affordable financing (source: sba.gov). This is where community banks step in, playing a critical role in helping small businesses thrive, fostering local economic growth, and building resilience. Small
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Measuring Impact in Community Finance: The Cooperative Fund of the Northeast’s Innovative Technical Assistance Approach
By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation CNote engages with CDFI Loan Funds in impact diligence as part of CNote’s fixed income investment underwriting process. The impact diligence process allows CNote to learn about loan funds’ impact measurement and management practices. The following highlights the work the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) has done