Shop local. A budget is a moral document. Build community.

These are all things I believe in. Which is why I took some time deciding whether or not to be a part of Needham Bank’s new ad campaign “For the Life You Build”. The folks at the bank understood my hesitation and spoke with me at length about their commitment to DEI and the CRA.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are goals for all of us. The Community Reinvestment Act (part of the Civil Rights Act) has mechanisms for grading banks on fair lending practices, accessibility to underserved communities and other criteria. Needham Bank has made strides. The people I spoke to are thoughtful and committed to the kind of change I am hoping to see. I really think small banks are a great place to start.

You can look up your bank’s rating here.

For the television ad, click here. Don’t blink or you’ll miss me!