The International Companies are anchored by ShoreBank Corporation and supported internationally by ShoreBank International and the ShoreCap Companies.

ShoreBank Corporation
A U.S. regulated commercial bank holding company and pioneering owner/operator of sustainable development finance institutions established to create economic equity and a healthy environment. Founded in 1973 to reverse economic deterioration in the aftermath of rapid racial change, ShoreBank has grown to $2 billion in assets with subsidiaries and affiliates in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Washington/Oregon. Each shares ShoreBank’s “triple bottom line” objectives of profitability, targeted investment in low-income communities in which it operates and environmental conservation. Cumulatively, ShoreBank has financed over $3.7 billion in mission-related investments, with over $371 million in new mission loans in 2008.

ShoreBank International Ltd.
ShoreBank established a consulting practice in 1988, SBI Ltd., formerly SBI Advisory Services (SAS), to share its operating experience in struggling urban and rural economic environments, working with financial institutions globally to create greater access to capital for underserved clients and to generate economic wealth within target markets. SBI’s mandate is to work with financial institutions (and their funders) that are growing their institutions with partial or total focus on financing entrepreneurial and housing investments in underbanked markets around the world. Operating on ShoreBank Corporation’s belief that a locally rooted regulated financial institution can be a catalyst for positive change in a community, SBI works with partners that share its commitment to making local markets work for individuals and families with more limited access. SBI has worked in over 50 developing and emerging economies, with banks, microfinance entities, credit-unions, cooperatives, NGOs and others that seek to continually reach entrepreneurs that are perceived to be too small, too risky or too new to interest conventional financial institutions. It emphasizes training and capacity building for lenders, managers and boards of partner institutions, and collaboration with local technical assistance providers to create a permanent, profitable local finance facility. Laurie J. Spengler, President, is based in London, Lauren Moser, Vice-President and Jesse Fripp, Vice-President, in Washington, D.C. These core offices support the company’s network of field operations located in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The ShoreCap Companies
In 2003, ShoreBank created two new funding programs that are both based on the values and operating principles that have made SBI a leader in rebuilding local economies. Working with SBI, these funding programs catalyze increased economic activity in under-invested communities. Together, SBI and the direct funding programs provide capital, operating systems and institutional support to create permanent, locally controlled financial institutions that serve small and micro businesses to achieve sustainable development impact.

ShoreCap Exchange
One of the funding programs is ShoreCap Exchange (SCE), a non-profit affiliate of SBI. Grounded in the principle that capital and capacity building are equally needed by financial institutions in emerging markets, SCE provides access to funding and to high quality local, regional and global expertise in areas such as risk management and internal control systems, financial management, cash flow based lending for small businesses and new product development. These funding and facilitation activities, which complement the services provided by SBI, are geared to help increase bank performance and deepen and broaden bank outreach to underserved businesses and households on a profitable basis. As a first step, SCE conducts a needs assessment and works with the financial institution to prepare and implement a technical assistance plan. Exchange also runs peer learning forums among banks to facilitate wider sharing of good practice in the field. ShoreCap Exchange has obtained commitments of $4.4 million and seeks a total of $9.0 million in grants over a five year period. Lynn Pikholz, with 12 years of development finance experience, is President of SCE, based in Chicago.