The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) announced the 2023 winners of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Membership Award and the Pillars of the Community Awards. These awards will be conferred in person during the month of June.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Membership Award
This award celebrates FHLBank member financial institutions that have implemented or supported impactful, innovative diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or programs in their communities. Being selected for this award also endeavors to inform and inspire other financial institutions to enhance their commitments to DEI work in their communities. This year’s winner is Community First Fund, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in recognition of their Economic Justice Fund Program.
Community First Fund focuses on developing affordable housing, educational opportunities, as well as access to food, healthcare and financing, to help businesses start and grow. They are committed to creating inclusive and vibrant communities that increase economic prosperity for everyone. To accomplish their mission, Community First Fund began the Economic Justice Fund Program in 2020 to serve immigrants, low-income individuals and communities, people of color and women by narrowing the opportunity gap for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Pillars of the Community Awards
These awards are presented to member financial institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community development. Awardees have also demonstrated exemplary efforts and effective use of FHLBank’s community products. This award is FHLBank’s highest organizational honor and is presented annually to select FHLBank members in recognition of their commitment to community revitalization. This year’s winners are Artisans’ Bank and Clear Mountain Bank.
Artisans’ Bank, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, provides a full range of financial products for consumers, small businesses and commercial customers. Artisans’ Bank has used FHLBank’s community products to support their communities. Artisans’ Bank has supported the Jefferson Street Center, a community hub in Wilmington, which originated through FHLBank’s Blueprint Communities® initiative. Artisans’ Bank also supports affordable housing in their community by partnering with Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation, a provider of affordable and inclusive housing and services. Artisans’ Bank actively encourages their associates to volunteer with nonprofit agencies and organizations that support the community.
As a locally owned bank, headquartered in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, Clear Mountain Bank uses FHLBank’s community products to support their community work. In connection with the Affordable Housing Program, Clear Mountain Bank has partnered with organizations to provide capital needed to create affordable housing. In their partnership with Bartlett House Homeless Shelter, AHP funding was utilized to help those experiencing homelessness by creating and maintaining safe and stable housing options. Clear Mountain Bank also supports Habitat for Humanity’s work in both Garrett and Monongalia Counties. Additionally, the Clear Mountain Cares initiative gives each team member paid time off to volunteer for an organization of their choice. Clear Mountain Bank also supports charitable organizations and fundraising drives throughout the year.
About Artisans’ Bank
Founded in 1861, Artisans’ Bank (total assets of $680 million as of March 31, 2023, is a locally managed, mutually owned, community bank headquartered in Delaware with 12 retail branch locations and community-based lending hubs in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties. Artisans’ Bank offers comprehensive commercial and retail banking services throughout the State of Delaware and the contiguous counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Artisans’ Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS#774924. Additional information is available at www.artisansbank.com.
About Clear Mountain Bank
Clear Mountain Bank is a locally owned and managed community bank that has been serving north central West Virginia and western Maryland for more than 130 years. The bank provides a comprehensive array of digital and traditional banking products and services to meet the needs of its personal, business, professional, mortgage, and financial advisory customers.
Widely recognized for excellence in financial services, Clear Mountain Bank has consistently earned a 5-star superior rating for financial strength and stability from BauerFinancial and has also been recognized as the Best of Morgantown for nine years. Additional information is available at https://www.clearmountain.bank.
About Community First Fund
Community First Fund is a private, independent nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to provide capital in places where it is not usually available. Community First Fund seeks to create positive change in the community by providing entrepreneurs, commercial real estate and affordable housing developers as well as nonprofits with access to loans for projects that generate jobs, create housing opportunities and essential community facilities, and help to revitalize communities. For more information, visit www.communityfirstfund.org.
About FHLBank Pittsburgh
FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.
"Blueprint Communities" is a registered service mark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005692/en/
Contacts
Eric M. Slomer, FHLBank Pittsburgh, 412-288-7694, eric.slomer@fhlb-pgh.com
