Where you bank matters. You can put your money to good use simply by banking with a community development bank or credit union. These institutions operate just like conventional banks, but focus on funding economic development in low- and moderate-income areas and supporting local economies, instead of simply investing to make their executives wealthier. 

Green America’s Get a Better Bank Map 

To help you find a community development bank or credit union in your area, Green America has created a Get a Better Bank map. This new standalone website lists almost 17,000 locations of over 3,000 banks and credit unions whose mission is to build their communities.

The map is fully searchable by location, bank name, and other filters. You can also find online only banks and credit unions, as well as information about why to switch, how to switch, FAQs, endorsing organizations, and a full explanation of how we selected the institutions to be listed.

The banks and credit unions included meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Federal certification by the CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) Fund 
• FDIC-identified Minority Depository Institutions, indicating minority ownership and/or having board directors and a customer base that is predominantly minority.
• NCUA Low Income Designation, meaning 50% or more of their members have a family income of 80% or less of the median family income in their metropolitan area
• Membership in Inclusiv, a network of community development credit unions
• Certified by B Lab as a B Corporation
• US members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values
• Certification by Green America’s Green Business Network 

Many banks and credit unions in our Get a Better Bank map meet more than one of these criteria for certifications and memberships, displayed as badges on the financial institution's page. Any minority or women ownership is also listed.

Benefits of Switching

Benefits of switching to a community development bank or credit union include:

• Banks and credit unions dedicated to community development help create good local jobs. 

• They may support clean energy, fair labor, and food security in food deserts. 

• They provide financial services to low-income individuals and/or supply capital for small businesses, affordable housing, and education facilities. 

• They invest in their local economy – things like mortgage loans and small business. 

• They have more accountability to individual customer members. 

Other Better Banking Resources

Other organizations have also created resources to identify better banks and credit unions. Each resource is different, so using more than one can be helpful. These resources include: 

• Mighty Deposits, which analyzes public data for what over 10,000 banks or credit unions in the United States invest in. 

• Bank for Good, which lists over 50 banks and credit unions that have signed a fossil-free commitment. 

• Bank.Green, which rates banks and credit unions based on its ratio of clean energy vs fossil fuel financing. 

• Better Banking Options, which scores over 10,000 banks and credit unions by how well they support their local communities. 

Consider Online Banking 

In addition to seeking out better banking options above, consider online financial institutions: 

• For any bank or credit union that interests you, ask if they offer paperless and online services. 

• Clean Energy Credit Union offers membership to Green America members, their family members, and those in the same household. All are eligible to join! (online only) 

Ready to move to a better bank or credit union? Learn how to make the switch! 

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