Urban Partnership Bank is a U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-insured, full-service community development bank in the United States with $1.4 billion in assets. It was established August 20, 2010, when it acquired the deposits and some of the assets of ShoreBank from the FDIC, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
The bank claims its focus is to build vibrant urban neighborhoods and promote economic and environmental sustainability in distressed and underserved areas of Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. Its customers range from individuals to small businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and faith-based organizations. The bank places a special emphasis on serving underbanked populations.
Origin
Urban Partnership Bank was founded in 2011 by the former management of the failed, but politically connected ShoreBank after the FDIC took the unusual step of permitting the current management team to remain in place and maintain ownership of ShoreBank by allowing them to purchase ShoreBank through the newly chartered Urban Partnership Bank. Although ShoreBank’s President William Farrow was brought on after regulators ordered ShoreBank to raise additional capital, it is highly unusual for the FDIC to resell to the managers who ran the failed bank. The Urban Partnership Bank became a viable institution thanks to capital injections from large US banks totaling $140 million, write downs taken on nonperforming assets by the FDIC which cost taxpayers $367.7 million and a loss-share agreement to cover future additional losses on assets.
Urban Partnership Bank acquired all of ShoreBank's $1.54 billion in deposits and most of its $2.16 billion in assets. The FDIC and Urban Partnership Bank share the losses of $1.41 billion of those assets at 20% and 80%, respectively. The new bank was capitalized with nearly $140 million.
In July 2011 Urban Partnership Bank was certified as a community development financial institution (CDFI). As such, other institutions can receive Community Reinvestment Act credit for depositing their funds in the bank. It is eligible to apply for programs through the CDFI Fund that support its mission to revitalize its urban neighborhoods.
Urban Partnership Bank is also certified as a Minority Depository Institution (MDI). Meaning that the bank is working towards improving and strengthening the community's overall well-being.
Current operations
After enduring significant losses every year since its creation, the bank moved to cut its operating costs in 2016 by reducing its overall number of branches and employees. This resulted in stable fourth quarter numbers and the bank's first ever profit
Leadership
Urban Partnership Bank is led by a team of experienced financial services professionals with roots in the community. Urban Partnership Bank President William Farrow and Executive Chairman David Vitale have said that their personal histories led them to take on the task of filling ShoreBank’s shoes.
Serving the underbanked
Urban Partnership Bank positions itself as a lower-cost competitor to currency exchanges and other cash-checking outlets, providing transaction services like prepaid cards to consumers who don’t have bank relationships.
The bank is closing loan offices and big branch locations and replacing them with “micro-branches†or full-service banking offices that are more welcoming to its customers.
Branch locations
In Chicago, the bank’s branches serve the communities of Chatham, Austin, Bellwood, Bronzeville, Greater Grand Crossing, South Shore, Kenwood, Loop, West Ridge, and Stone Park. The bank also maintains branches in Cleveland and Detroit.