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Food Businesses

The sustainable online bank you've been waiting for

We're an online bank designed and built by and for food business operators. Whether it's a new loan, refinancing an existing loan, or deposit accounts (like our Grow Local Business accounts and CDs), we understand the local food ecosystem.

LoanS
DEPOSITS

Expanding your operation?
‍Need credit to buy equipment?
Looking for a revolving working capital line?

Whether it's capital for for a new production facility, equipment financing, working capital or refinancing existing debt, we've got loan products designed from the ground-up to meet the needs of our region's food innovators.

We lend to manufacturers, distributors, trade and consumers brands, direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailers, subscription businesses, and everything in between.

Whether it's capital for land acquisition, equipment financing, working capital or refinancing existing debt, we've got loan products designed from the ground-up to meet the needs of our region's producers.

Talk with a Lender

OUR EXTENSIVE NETWORK

Connect with the Leaders of Our Region’s Local Food Movement

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BOARD MEMBER

Bob Burke

Bob is the founder and operator of Natural Products Consulting, and the co-author of the Natural Products Field Manual. He previously spent 11 years as Vice President of Sales and Corporate Development at Stonyfield Farm, and is currently an outside director at EcoFish, Saffron Road, Uncle Matt's Organic, Cali’Flour Foods, and King Arthur Baking (where he serves as Board Chair).

Talk to Bob about
Sales
Marketing
Growth marketing
A black and white photo of corporator Levon Kurkjian, a man wearing an open collared shirt, smiling, and wearing glasses, shown from the front from the arms upward.

Corporator

Levon Kurkjian

Levon is a Brand Strategy Director at Opus Design. He previously held executive roles at Kettle Cuisine, Signature Breads, and the Modern Pod Company. Passionate about helping organizations do well, while also doing good.

Talk to Levon about
Brand Strategy
Food Retail
A black and white photo of Anne Mayhew and her young daughter. Anne is shown from her back while holding her daughter who is looking back towards the viewer, and both are smiling.

Corporator

Anne Mayhew

Anne is the founder and head baker of LMNOP Bakery in Katonah, NY. LMNOP Bakery was awarded the 2021 “Best New Bread Bakery” in Westchester, by Westchester Magazine. Prior to her career as a baker, Anne studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art. After earning an MFA in Fiber, she continued her research in Paris as a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship. LMNOP has grown from a home bakery to building out a production and retail bakery opening this October.

Talk to Anne about
Baking
Retail
Coffee

Not One-Size-Fits-All

Loans Designed for You

Our loans are specially tailored to fit the needs of each individual borrower.

Need a repayment schedule that fits the seasonal cycles of your business? Working towards a new sustainability certification? Overhauling your operations? We have individualized solutions for each situation.

Wildgrain

BOSTON, MA

Producer and distributor of slow fermented sourdough breads, fresh pastas, and artisan pastas
‍
“Partnering with Walden Mutual was an obvious decision. We both share the same values for promoting healthy nutrition and supporting artisanal and sustainable food production. They were able to quickly grasp our unique needs as a modern food company, understand our business model and provided us with the necessary funding to expand and scale. ”
‍
- Ismail Salhi, Co-Founder

A black and white photo of Wildgrain co-founder Ismail Salhi, a man smiling with short cropped hair wearing a black t-shirt, shown from the front from the shoulders up, wearing sunglasses with a large body of water visible in the background.

co-marketing opportunities

Access to a Motivated Values-Aligned Community

Walden Mutual depositors, like you, care deeply about our region’s local food movement. And they’ve already demonstrated their commitment to putting their money where their mouth is through their deposits.

Our borrowers instantly become participants in our shared conversation about sustainability. Co-marketing (including access to our newsletter, events, product placements, etc.) are core to our wraparound support.

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Sustainable banking

A Lender with a Purpose

As a Pending B Corp and cooperatively governed mutual, our mission is our single reason for being.

We utilize a proprietary impact evaluation - the Walden Impact Assessment - to facilitate conversations about social and environmental responsibility with our borrowers.

And after loans are funded and closed, we're committed to providing the resources borrowers need to make progress on their impact journey - including covering the first $500 of fees associated with pursuing a sustainability-related certification1.

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Loans Designed for You

Loans that are specially tailored to fit the needs of each individual borrower.

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Better, Not More Expensive

Competitive interest rates that allow your values and budget to co-exist.

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Easy-to-Use Digital Tools

Modern mobile and online banking and borrowing tools.

Talk with a LenderReceive Our NewsletterCheck Interest Rates

All loans are issued by Walden Mutual Bank, member FDIC. Loan eligibility is not guaranteed. All loans are subject to credit review and approval. Interest rates are subject to change.

1. Terms & conditions apply. See full detail here.

FDIC-insured business checking...without the surprise fees1

Our Grow Local Business checking account is feature-rich - with digital check deposit,2 exports to Quickbooks, and employee account permissions - but without monthly fees, minimum balances, ATM fees, or other surprise charges.3

And we have Local Impact Business certificates of deposit (CDs), which offer competitive rates of return over longer periods of time.

Need new or used equipment to jumpstart your business? Searching for a working capital line to smooth operations? Something else? We’re ready to talk.

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A BETTER BANK

A Sustainable Online Bank with a Purpose

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Finally feel good about where your money sleeps at night. As a Pending B Corp and cooperatively governed mutual, our mission is our single reason for being.

Better, Not More Expensive

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No minimum balances, no monthly fees, and no surprise charges. Straightforward and simple.

Plus free ATM access anywhere. We'll reimburse up to $15 per month per account in fees assessed by ATM providers.3

Features for Growth

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move money seamlessly
Link your existing bank accounts just by logging in, and transfers funds (via ACH) for free.
EXPORT TO QUICKBOOKS OR EXCEL
Download your account history for upload into QuickBooks or Excel with only a few clicks.
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An illustration of a vertically-oriented mobile phone, displaying the mobile check deposit screen of the Walden Mutual mobile app.
Deposit checks on-the-go
Use your phone camera to deposit checks in seconds while you're on the go.2

Other Bells & Whistles

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Better PAYMENTS

Pay securely with our Walden Mutual Partner Business Card.4 Tap, dip, or swipe - and control your card on the move through our app.

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employee access

Set-up sub-user accounts for your bookkeeper or employees, and issue debit cards to up to four cardholders for free.

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SAFE & SECURE

FDIC insurance on all balances up to $250,000, industry-grade data encryption, and multi-factor authentication. Take comfort knowing your money is safe.

Local Impact BUSINESS CDs

Invest directly in the renaissance of our region's local food ecosystem

Our Local Impact Business CDs offer competitive rates of return, in exchange for an extended commitment to our mission.

Need new or used equipment to jumpstart your business? Searching for a working capital line to smooth operations? Something else? We’re ready to talk.

Term APY*
3 Month 2.75%
6 Month 3.5%
1 Year 3.5%
3 Year 3.25%
5 Year 3.5%
10 Year 4.0%
100 Year 4.75%
  • Only $1,000 minimum initial deposit (and minimum daily balance)
  • 10-year CD: Unique opportunity to support long-term investment in food systems change
  • Use the same digital tools to monitor your CDs on the go
  • When your CD matures, the funds automatically roll into another CD of the same term - or transfer your money into another Walden Mutual account
  • Withdraw early (before maturity) for a marginal penalty (see account charges for details)3
  • If you're interested in opening a Local Impact Business CD, first open and fund a Grow Local Business account
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1. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Insurance coverage limited to $250,000. Addition insurance coverage available upon request.
2. Desktop check deposit also available, but requires purchase of a compatible scanner, and free enrollment and configuration of the service. Send us a note if you're interested!
3. Account charges are listed here.
4. Walden Mutual Partner Business Card is a Visa® Debit Card issued by Walden Mutual Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.

* Annual percentage yield, as of May 18th, 2023. Daily compounding, posted monthly. Subject to change without notice.