Best Socially Responsible Banks of 2026

Socially responsible investing is becoming increasingly popular as investors seek to have a positive impact on the environment or society. Besides investing, socially conscious people may look for other ways to make a difference, including where they bank. Choosing a socially responsible bank is another way to consciously make your money work for something you believe in.

If you’re shopping for your first bank account or want to switch, you don’t have to sacrifice a quality banking experience when you choose a socially responsible bank.

We have identified eight socially responsible banks and a few runner-up banks as well. These banks have different missions, but are recognized as leaders in their efforts to achieve environmental or social changes.

These banks are taking an active stance against climate change. They do not issue loans to fossil fuel companies, and invest in environmentally positive causes.

GreenFI is a fintech company working in collaboration with Beneficial State Bank (also listed below). The company operates using a customer donation model. Users can choose to pay GreenFI for its services (and how much to pay).

GreenFI donates 10% of its total revenue to charities that help build better lives for Americans. The company also avoids making loans to oil or coal companies and is committed to remaining carbon neutral in all of its products.

The banks listed here promote issues such as unionized workers’ rights, affordable housing, and other social issues. Both banks specifically fund these causes by lending to various organizations that promote worthy causes.

Founded as a bank to serve unionized garment workers in 1923, Mixed bank It remains close to its roots almost a century later. The lender is now publicly traded and continues to focus on empowering people and organizations to create positive change.

They support a wide range of progressive issues including immigrant and labor rights, unions, LGBTQ rights, climate change, and economic change, to name a few.

Since its establishment in 2007, Useful State Bank It is owned by the Beneficial State Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses the bank’s profits to fund projects for social change.

The State Bank issued the benefit $250 million in loans for affordable housing, $130 million in clean energy loans, and $44 million in social justice loans. Fully 80% of Helpful Loan’s causes directly support its mission.

These banks have locations nationwide, but focus on uplifting underserved communities through lending and financial innovation.

Competitors in this category have a smaller geographic footprint, but focus on uplifting their local community.

As a financial institution for community development, Southern Bancorp It has community reinvestment at its heart. Founded in 1986, the bank primarily serves rural and underserved communities throughout the Mid-South region.

It seeks to expand business and personal lending to communities that have historically been overlooked by larger lending institutions. The company is particularly focused on reaching unbanked and underbanked individuals. These are people who may have had difficulties opening bank accounts or cashing their checks at traditional banks in the past.

Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Sunrise Banks Focuses on financial empowerment for all people including marginalized people. It collaborates with fintech companies, including Self, to create products that will serve underbanked people.

Founded in 1986, the full-service bank offers its full range of financial products to people across the country.

Black-owned banks are one of the most important institutions for building economically disadvantaged Black communities in the United States.

Today, there are only 18 Black-owned banks in the United States, and most of these institutions have a strong track record of socially responsible lending and community building.

In April 2021, after the merger City first and Broadway Federal, Broadway Federal has become the largest Black-led minority depository.

While the company only operates in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles at the moment, customers can access the mobile banking app across the country. City First operates as a public benefit corporation, meaning it works with numerous nonprofit organizations to advance social justice. Reasons include affordable housing, education, small business, health, and the arts.

At the turn of the century, the black community had limited access to financial capital to grow businesses. Mechanics and Farmers Bank, now known as M&F Bankwas founded in 1907 in North Carolina to meet this need.

Since that time, the bank has expanded to build the well-being of their communities. They do this through high-quality financial solutions and paying special attention to underserved people and geographies.

College Investor looked at all the banks that were part of it Green America, Certified B Corporationor members Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Credit unions were excluded from the rankings.

To be listed as a “Best Bank,” a bank must be part of a national network of ATMs, and have a mobile app that makes it accessible to people who don’t live near a nearby branch. The bank must also have at least one no-fee checking account.

The Best Black-Owned Banks category has been expanded to include some of the Black-owned banks listed across the country Black Bank USA. The listed banks have a strong history of social responsibility and reinvestment in the black community, and have a national presence.