Who Owns One United Bank and Its Activist Approach to Finance

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Black and white photo of a high-rise and Capital One Bank in Hoboken, NJ.
Credit: pexels.com, Black and white photo of a high-rise and Capital One Bank in Hoboken, NJ.

One United Bank is a community-focused financial institution with a unique ownership structure. It is owned by the OneUnited Bank Holding Company, a publicly traded company listed on the OTCQX marketplace.

The bank's ownership is diverse, with various shareholders holding stakes in the company. These shareholders include institutional investors, individual investors, and the bank's management team.

One United Bank's activist approach to finance is rooted in its commitment to social responsibility. The bank's leadership believes that business can be a force for good, driving positive change in the communities it serves.

The bank's mission is to provide financial services that promote economic empowerment and social justice. This mission is reflected in its products and services, which are designed to meet the needs of low-income and minority communities.

Ownership and Identity

OneUnited Bank was founded by two business partners who were determined to create a bank that truly served the Black community. They wanted to reconnect the community and its allies by using the bank to create an economic base that would help close the racial wealth gap.

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Credit: youtube.com, Black Owned Bank! | One United Bank | For The Culture Friday with LaWanda Rose

The bank's founders, Cohee and Williams, were motivated by the fact that white lenders had historically underserved and discriminated against the Black community. They wanted to provide services that fit the unique needs of the Black community, which weren't being met by white lenders.

The Black-white wealth gap is staggering, with a 2017 Boston Globe investigative series reporting that white households in the greater Boston region had a net worth of $247,000, compared to just $8 for Black households. This disparity has made it difficult for Black banks to build deposits and do mortgage and small business lending in their communities.

Is OneUnited Bank Black Owned?

OneUnited Bank is often touted as the largest Black-owned bank in the US.

The bank was founded in 1968 by a group of African American entrepreneurs, including the Reverend Charles Bradford, who was a prominent civil rights leader.

OneUnited Bank has a long history of serving the Black community, dating back to its founding in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.

Credit: youtube.com, Here’s how the largest Black-owned bank is closing the racial wealth gap

The bank's mission is to provide financial services that meet the unique needs of the Black community, including affordable housing and small business lending.

OneUnited Bank has received numerous awards and recognition for its commitment to community development and financial inclusion.

The bank has also been recognized for its innovative use of technology to expand access to financial services for underserved communities.

OneUnited Bank's commitment to Black ownership and identity is evident in its leadership and board of directors, which are comprised of African American professionals and community leaders.

Banking as Activism

OneUnited, the largest Black-owned bank in the US, has made a commitment to leverage Black spending to change the culture and end inequity and injustice against Blacks, with a goal of $1.3 trillion annually.

Their approach is unapologetically Black, recognizing the historical underservice and discrimination of the Black community by white lenders. This includes providing financial education on their website and specialized programs for urban bankers.

Credit: youtube.com, Ep 2: Finch Technologies - Open Banking and Owning Your Identity with Chris Ball

The bank's slogan, "The Bank with a Purpose", reflects its goal of unifying and building wealth in Black communities. This means providing services that fit the unique needs of the Black community, which weren't being met by white lenders.

OneUnited actively supports racial justice movements, such as #BankBlack, #BlackLivesMatter, and #1619Project, encouraging the Black community to use its financial might to send a message of protest and progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Janet Jackson own a bank?

Janet Jackson was a majority owner of Founders National Bank of Los Angeles, which later merged to form OneUnited Bank. She was a minority owner of OneUnited Bank after the merger.

Who is the parent company of United Bank?

The parent company of United Bank is UBSI. UBSI oversees a network of over 250 banking offices across multiple states and Washington, D.C.

Victoria Funk

Junior Writer

Victoria Funk is a talented writer with a keen eye for investigative journalism. With a passion for uncovering the truth, she has made a name for herself in the industry by tackling complex and often overlooked topics. Her in-depth articles on "Banking Scandals" have sparked important conversations and shed light on the need for greater financial transparency.

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