Portland, OR — The Portland Harbor Community Coalition (PHCC) announced it will begin banking with Native American Bank, a Community Development Institution (CDI) whose purpose is to promote economic development within communities that are underserved by traditional financial institutions. The partnership reflects PHCC’s commitment to investing in community-driven solutions and supporting financial institutions whose values align in building economic power within BIPOC communities.
PHCC has long advocated for the protection, restoration, and stewardship of the Willamette River and the Portland Harbor Superfund Site, centering the voices of Indigenous and frontline communities in decision-making processes.
“Moving PHCCs banking to Native American Bank aligns with tribal sovereignty and our deep connection to the land,” said Candice Jimenez, PHCC board chair and citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. “By investing in a Native-owned financial institution, we support tribal self-determination, economic resilience, and the stewardship of our lands and waters for future generations.”
Native American Bank, founded in 2001, operates retail branches in Colorado and Montana and is set to open a new location this fall on the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington state. As part of its continued expansion into the Pacific Northwest, the bank announced a partnership last year with Ginew, the nation’s first Native-owned denim brand, based in Portland. Native American Bank also partnered with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to allocate $15 million in new market tax credits toward a new health facility in Omak, Wash.
“This partnership is a testament to the power of values-aligned investing and the impact it can have on our communities,” said Thomas Ogaard, President and Chief Executive Officer for Native American Bank. “We are excited to expand into the Pacific Northwest and partner with tribes, Native-owned businesses, and organizations that share our commitment to economic self-determination and sovereignty.”
Native American Bank has a strong track record of investing in projects that foster tribal business growth and community infrastructure development.
“Banking with Native American Bank is both an achievement of self-determination and resilience for all people,” said Jeri Jimenez, PHCC board vice chair, citizen and elder of Klamath Tribes. “It is a move to improve the lives of future generations. Can you see it? Immediately, I see faces of people proud to enter a place where their children feel at home.”
Photo caption and credit: Indigenous community members make an offering to the Willamette River during an event co-hosted by the Portland Harbor Community Coalition in September 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk, Underscore Native News / Report for America)
Contact:
Veronica Lane, Native American Bank
Vice President, Marketing Director
[email protected]
720-963-5515
About Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Portland Harbor Community Coalition elevates the voices of communities most impacted by pollution in the Portland Harbor Superfund site to ensure impacted communities benefit from and lead the cleanup, restoration, and redevelopment of the harbor. Learn more at phccoalition.org/.
About Native American Bank
Chartered as a national community development focused bank, Native American Bank, N.A. is also a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). NAB is committed to being a self-sustaining CDFI and is the first national American Indian-owned community development bank in the country. NAB supports the communities that it services, and it received an “outstanding” score on the most recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exam. Learn more at nativeamericanbank.com.