Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event that celebrates the planet's beauty and promotes the need to protect it. And even though on our calendars it’s only a single day, the Verity community is consistently making efforts to better our community and planet throughout the entire year.

Climate change affects us all, but negative environmental impacts disproportionally affect BIPOC and lower-income communities. Redlining and neighborhood covenants forced marginalized communities into undesirable areas, such as flood plains and industrial centers, while low-income families are often located near high-health impact areas, such as freeways. Underserved communities are more likely to be located in "fence-line" communities, where commercial facilities produce negative effects on the population. Poor air quality leads to health problems, including asthma, which affects a higher percentage of underserved children compared to White American children.

We acknowledge we alone cannot fix climate change but we do believe in the importance of doing what we can to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change through sustainability and through empowering others to make positive changes. Here are some of the ways in which we are fighting to help the environment:

1. Being part of the GABV Climate Pledge: Verity Credit Union is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) and has signed the Climate Pledge, which commits the credit union to measure and reduce its carbon footprint. The GABV is a network of banks and financial institutions that are committed to promoting sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. Learn more about the GABV.
2. Offering charging stations for electric vehicles at some locations: Verity Credit Union recognizes the importance of reducing carbon emissions from transportation which is why we have installed electric vehicle charging stations at some of our locations to promote the use of electric vehicles.
3. Energy-efficient buildings and branches: Verity Credit Union has made efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and branches. The credit union has implemented measures such as using energy-efficient lighting, insulation, and HVAC systems to reduce its carbon footprint. Which has led to some of our branches, including our headquarters, receiving LEED certification.

But the bigger positive impact on the Earth is being accomplished by Verity members making large-scale changes, like switching to solar energy or an environmentally-friendly vehicle. These investments in environmentalism can be expensive, which is why we offer loans specifically designed for supporting individual efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels: We offer loans for environmentally friendly vehicles, bicycles, and solar panels. These loans empower members to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Our commitment to promoting sustainability and fighting climate change is unwavering. By implementing environmentally friendly practices and offering loans for sustainable initiatives, we are contributing to a more sustainable future for us all.