OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in America, has partnered with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and BMe Community (BMe) to bring a powerful series of financial literacy videos to Black America that will underscore the importance of financial literacy, buying Black, banking Black and the genius of collective economics. Topics will include the importance of saving for the future, how to power up your credit score, millennials and money, banking based on your valued, and how the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack movement can create jobs and support community development.
The series launched on Facebook, YouTube and OneUnited Bank’s website on January 13, 2017.
OneUnited Bank’s commitment to the #BankBlack Movement is demonstrated in its partnership with AAFCA, an annual premium awards show produced by the leading Black film critics in the world. Considered “The Black Oscars”, this uber elite event is attended by top-ranked studio executives, producers, directors and boasts plenty of star power with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Alfre Woodard, Viola Davis, Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx, and other luminaries. AAFCA and its newly formed sister company AAFCA Productions are widely respected for the style and integrity they bring to its projects, and will be responsible for content and production of the #BankBlack video series.
“We are thrilled to launch AAFCA Production Services with a strong partner with similar values,” says AAFCA co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “Our work with OneUnited Bank will provide a great example of the multi-tiered services we provide for companies looking to craft messages that merge celebrity with subjects and themes that impact the community.”
In August 2016, OneUnited Bank began its partnership with BMeCommunity, the national, award-winning social network of inspired Black men working to build community health and wealth in cities across America. Both organizations place a strong emphasis on the importance of empowering the Black community through initiatives that focus on economics, community development, entrepreneurship, and technology. BMe is led by Trabian Shorters, CEO, and backed by private donations and leading philanthropies including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, The Heinz Endowments, and The William R. Keenan Jr. Charitable Trust. BMe Community and OneUnited Bank serve as consultants to AAFCA on the content of the video series.
“At OneUnited Bank, we began with the understanding that traditional ways of teaching financial literacy to under-served communities are not effective and we needed to do something more creative,” says Teri Williams, President & Chief Operating Officer of OneUnited Bank. “Our partnership with AAFCA and BMe Community allows us to think outside of the traditional banking box to educate consumers, especially Black millennials, on the importance of being financially literate and using their collective spending power purposefully.”
