From the Blog

Reflecting on a Year of Financial Empowerment and Growth

Posted by Amanda Trainor on Dec 10, 2024

As we reflect on this year, we feel incredibly grateful for each of our amazing community partners and the work they do to strengthen Central & East Brooklyn. None of Bk Coop’s successes would have been possible without the collaboration, support, and trust of our partners. Together we imagined and created new alternatives to strengthen financial resilience in our community.

Here are just a few highlights from 2024:

Brought in $1.2M of deposits through the Friends of Bk Coop campaign to support our lending to local small businesses and first-time homebuyers. New Friends of Bk Coop included New Economy Project, Red Hook Initiative, NYCHA, Cypress Hills LDC and Cypress Hills Senior Center.
Developed the Step Up Loan for nonprofits & worker cooperatives: Created with invaluable expertise and input from RiseBoro, CEANYC, Brooklyn Packers, Center for Family Life, and The Working World.
Collaborated on the Creative Sustainability Loan Fund: Launched by the Laundromat Project in partnership with Bk Coop to provide accessible financial support to artists and cultural organizers.
Attended 50+ community events to expand banking access: Partnered with Councilmember Sandy Nurse, Cypress Hills Local Development Corp, New York Communities for Change, Make the Road, Diaspora Community Services, RISE NOW, and others to bring safe and equitable banking options to unbanked and undocumented individuals.
Launched a new monthly workshop series facilitated by trusted industry experts including Grow Brooklyn, New Economy Project, EDCAP NY, and Brooklyn Plans. Topics included Death & Estate Planning, Investing Safely, Navigating Medical Debt, and Student Loan Debt.

We are filled with energy and hope for what’s to come in 2025. Thank you, and here’s to another year of solidarity and shared victories!