Why it matters
A bank account looks like storage. In practice, most of what you deposit is lent out, and those loans shape homes, businesses, energy and local services.
Follow the money
Banks lend out most of what is deposited. Across U.S. banks, this is roughly how those loans divide.
Approximate figures based on U.S. banking sector averages, from the Federal Reserve’s H.8 release and other sources. Small rounding differences can occur.
What deposits shape
When deposits become loans, they turn into homes, shops, clinics and public spaces. Lending decides whether small businesses can hire, whether affordable housing is efficient and healthy, and whether neighborhoods get the upgrades they need.
Homes, power grids, transit and heating systems are financed years before we use them. Lending decides whether communities get grid upgrades that prevent outages, efficient homes and modern transport, or systems that cost more to run for decades.
Access to credit decides who can afford efficient upgrades, which neighborhoods carry high energy bills, and whose homes are ready for heatwaves and storms. Communities with less access to credit face higher costs and fewer choices.
Start here
You don’t have to switch banks today. The first step is seeing what your bank does with your money.
Type your bank’s name to see how it scores when it comes to responsible banking.
Browse banks and credit unions, filtered by state and services.
A step-by-step guide to moving your money without missed payments.
Your money. Your future. Your move.
Every bank and credit union in the directory is rated Strong or Advanced for environmental responsibility, or stands out for its social impact.
