Amalgamated Bank affirms the decision to hold George Floyd’s murderer accountable for his actions. However, innocent Black people continue to die every day at the hands of the police. This violence must end now, and although Derek Chauvin will be punished, that is not enough to fix the systemic racism deeply ingrained in the criminal justice system and our larger society.

Officially one year into the COVID-19 pandemic and erratic state-by-state lockdowns, we continue to question what a “new normal” will look like for our country. We know that a return to old ways of doing business isn’t viable for the health of our planet and communities and that we have a responsibility to radically reimagine how we do business. 

Demand for ESG investment strategies and products continues to see rapid growth. As we expand our ESG offerings, we are growing the team to lead this important work. We believe that sound Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) competencies will no longer be a trademark of industry distinction but a required commitment to better business practices. 

Today, on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2021), we honor the centuries-long plight of women around the world, from women’s suffrage to #MeToo, and everything in between. The theme for this year’s women’s day is #ChooseToChallenge, based on the premise that from challenge comes change. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequalities. We can also choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. At Amalgamated Bank, we always choose to challenge social inequalities and injustices. 

Against the rosy backdrop of recent market gains lies the cold reality that with the reopening of the economy comes an end to the brief respite from polluting cars and factories. The long-term effects of this pollution are more visible than ever before.