![]() ![]() ![]() Its loan officers provide free counsel to existing and prospective black entrepreneurs and enable them to enter business through progressive loan policies. The bank sponsors free seminars on consumer education, investment, maintenance of credit, and the hows's and why's of using a bank. and is open on Saturdays) to the free financial counseling that it provides, Unity is oriented to the working people of the Roxbury community. Established to give equal economic opportunity to the ghetto-dwellers of Roxbury-Dorchester, it is, as its slogan states, 'The Bank With a Purpose."įrom its extra hours (Unity opens daily at 8:30 a.m. Unity is distinguished by its innovations in banking and its direct involvement with the community. Though it is basically a commercial bank like Harvard Trust and Cambridge. But Unity's forlorn appearance and surroundings are deceiving. And directly across from Unity lies another lot-this one empty and muddy. Up the street, a drab, pre-fabricated government housing project stands alone, near completion, in the middle of a large barren lot. ![]() Inside, the walls are just beginning to crack in some places and the bank seems small. Located on Warren Street in central Roxbury, Unity Bank is an unimpressive grey building with large arched doorways. When Unity Bank opened on June 24, it became the first bi-racial bank in the history of New England and the second to exist in the country-The Freedom National Bank in Harlem, established in 1964, was the first. This great gap underlines the economic and entrepreneurial difference between the white economic power structure and black communities in this country. There are 14,500 commercial banks in the United States 20 are black controlled. "Every mail box is a branch office of the Unity Bank," he said. Because if you don't, you're going to be standing by yourself in the middle of nothing."Ĭalling Unity "constructive black power," he urged the audience to bank by mail and place their accounts at Unity. If you don't help, someday you're going to sit back and say, 'I should have listened to that guy.' The time has come for people to get together. He told a spellbound audience of 200, "We are going to be the fastest growing commercial bank in New England and everybody is going to help. He was angry then, and one couldn't help but be struck by his overwhelming determination. Sneed, president of the new Unity Bank and Trust Company in Roxbury-the first bi-racial bank in New England-spoke in Hilles Library at Radcliffe. LAST SPRING, shortly after the death of Rev. ![]()
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