Why are Walden Account Holders Called Partners?

You might have noticed account owners here at Walden are called partners instead of customers. This is closely tied to who we are both as a mutual bank and our goal as an organization. When we first established the bank, we made the decision to design it under mutual ownership, meaning Walden reports to the account owners, not stakeholders. Our account owners steer the direction of what we do, making everyone here a true Partner of the bank.

If you ever thought that Walden doesn’t feel like a traditional bank, it may be because of why we got started in the first place. The inspiration to create Walden wasn’t to become a bank. We got started because we want to enable anyone to participate in ecosystems that sustain us, regardless of age, location, or how much money they have. After much consideration, we decided the best way to do this was to form a bank dedicated to supporting people and businesses involved at every stage of the food production process. We expanded on that mission in 2025, committing to not just the local food ecosystem, but the many ecosystems that sustain us. Becoming an account owner at Walden means becoming a partner in that goal, and we want to recognize your involvement.