Bank CEO Champions Social Responsibility in Leadership Role

WHO:

Fast Company - Priscilla Sims Brown, president and CEO of Amalgamated Bank.

Fast Company - Robby Starbuck, activist shareholder.

Fast Company - Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group.

Fast Company - Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, the founding organization of Amalgamated Bank.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Amalgamated Bank is a certified B Corp and claims its mission is to be “America’s socially responsible bank.”

Fast Company - Approximately 40% of Amalgamated Bank’s lending is climate-related.

Fast Company - Amalgamated Bank's balance sheet increased from about $6.6 billion to $9.2 billion since Brown joined in 2021.

Fast Company - The stock price of Amalgamated Financial has more than doubled and is up 25% this year.

Fast Company - Amalgamated Bank has a program that helps low- and moderate-income homeowners finance energy-efficient upgrades through property taxes, often without upfront costs.

Inc - Amalgamated Bank has acknowledged that its social responsibility positions may adversely affect its business.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Amalgamated Bank is based in the United States.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Amalgamated Bank was founded in 1923.

WHY:

Fast Company - The bank's commitment to social impact is in response to pressures from the Trump administration and activist shareholders.

Fast Company - Brown emphasizes the importance of addressing issues like racial discrimination, income inequality, and climate change.

HOW:

Fast Company - Amalgamated Bank has revised its communication regarding diversity, removing certain terms from its website while clarifying its stance.

Fast Company - The bank encourages interviewers to consider candidates from diverse backgrounds without implementing hiring quotas.

(UPDATED June 8, 2026 12:21 UTC)

Amalgamated Bank, led by president and CEO Priscilla Sims Brown, is positioning itself as "America’s socially responsible bank," with approximately 40% of its lending focused on climate-related initiatives. Since Brown took the helm in 2021, the bank's balance sheet has grown significantly from about $6.6 billion to $9.2 billion, while its stock price has more than doubled and is up 25% this year. The bank also offers programs to help low- and moderate-income homeowners finance energy-efficient upgrades, reflecting its commitment to addressing social issues like racial discrimination and income inequality, despite acknowledging that such positions may impact its business.