While the industry is facing greater pressure to scrutinize the environmental risks associated with its financing activities, many banks also sense opportunities in climate change. Here are some examples.

The U.S. unit of Toronto-Dominion Bank plans to invest in CDFIs and specialized funds that serve Black, Hispanic and other diverse business owners in its East Coast territory.

The heads of the six largest banks aimed to promote their COVID-19 relief in testimony to the Banking Committee. Democrats said their efforts were insufficient while Republicans criticized the executives for taking public stances on issues like climate change and voting rights.

Despite concerns about the scope of information that companies would have to provide about risks linked to climate change, some of the largest institutions are seeking to collaborate with the agency as it develops a framework for informing investors.

Last year, many banks made big, splashy pledges to advance racial equity. Now some of those banks are seeking to hold executives accountable for those efforts through their paychecks.

The $1 billion bond, which follows similar issuances by Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Truist Financial, gives a big role to broker-dealers owned by minorities, women and disabled veterans.

The legislation would bar firms that receive government contracts from discriminating against firearms companies. Smaller banks have quietly dropped their opposition in hopes of gaining more municipal bond business.

Texas moved closer to enacting a law that would ban government work with Wall Street banks whose policies restrict the firearms industry, marking a pushback from Republicans in the gun-friendly state against corporations taking sides in America’s political fights.

JPMorgan Chase, the biggest funder of fossil-fuel companies globally, is pledging a 35% reduction in “operational carbon intensity” for its oil and gas portfolio by the end of this decade.

The heads of the biggest banks have a chance to tout the industry's community outreach during the pandemic. But they can also expect tough questions about the Paycheck Protection Program as well as what banks are doing to address climate change, racial inequities and other hot-button issues.

Even though recent shareholder proposals aimed at combating racial inequality did not pass, supporters say they got enough votes to keep the issue front and center.

ESG is here to stay and it matters to investors.

Bank of America and Citigroup, the top two underwriters in the $3.9 trillion municipal bond market, are at risk of getting shut out of Texas because of a push by Republican state lawmakers to punish the banks for their restrictive gun policies.

The greenhouse gas emissions associated with financial institutions’ investing, lending and underwriting activities are more than 700 times higher, on average, than their direct emissions, a report concludes.

CEO John Turner said green projects present a strong business opportunity for the Birmingham, Ala., company.

The fintech Fair isn’t using terms like “sharia” or “Islam” in its messaging, but it is offering interest-free loans and socially responsible investments that comply with Islamic rules.

Under the leadership of former Chief Risk Officer John D'Angelo, the new environmental, social and governance office will oversee the bank's sustainability and corporate social responsibility functions.

Called by House and Senate Democrats, the hearings with the heads of the nation's six largest banks will take place over two days and will likely examine the industry's response to the pandemic and efforts to address climate change and racial equity.

JPMorgan Chase set a goal to finance $2.5 trillion in initiatives that combat climate change and advance sustainable development over the next 10 years, while Citigroup said it would back $1 trillion of similar efforts by 2030.

Bank of America, which has had an environmental business goal since 2007, is significantly increasing its current commitment.