From the Ground Up: How Companies Can Help Drive Financial Inclusion

Join Merck KGaA, CNote and 3BL Media this Wednesday, December 14 at 1 p.m. ET to learn more about how businesses can use an innovative model to expand financial inclusion and meet their DEI targets.

Across the U.S., limited access to financial services continues to hold back many citizens, especially people of color. As companies look to invest in the communities in which they do business, efforts to improve financial inclusion can have a positive impact through generating small business growth, expanding affordable housing and offering more opportunities for individuals to build income and wealth.

In a recent example of this model in action, science and technology company Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, made a $20 million investment this fall with CNote, a women-led impact investment platform. The investment will provide capital to support BIPOC-owned (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and women-led small businesses, thereby bolstering economic growth and opportunity.

To learn more, join Jeffrey Whitford, Head of Sustainability and Social Business Innovation for the Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, CNote CEO Catherine Berman, and TriplePundit’s senior editor, Mary Mazzoni, on Wednesday, December 14 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6:00 p.m GMT as they discuss this beneficial partnership and how other businesses can apply this novel model to meet their diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Register for this free webcast here.

CNote has had an impressive track record at deploying investor funds into deposit and loan products at community financial institutions (CFIs) Across the U.S., CFIs have been crucial in serving small businesses owned by women and people of color, fund affordable housing, and support other forms of economic inclusion. Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany’s investment targets U.S. regions where the company has substantial operations, including Arizona, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

The focus on community financial institutions with a proven track record of serving the under-resourced has big potential for positive impact — and offers valuable lessons other business leaders can apply as they look to build tangible investment programs with comprehensive social impact reporting. 

With that said, be sure to join us this coming Wednesday.

Image credit: Unsplash