Union Bank® CSR

In 2018, our charitable investment in the community exceeded $17.1 million. These contributions helped finance the efforts of non-profit organizations within our marketplace.

The charitable commitment is achieved through sponsorship made directly by the bank and through grants and investments made by the MUFG Union Bank Foundation. Click here for a list of 2018 Foundation grant and Corporate Contribution recipients. 

Information about applying for a charitable grant for your non-profit organization is available in the section below: How to apply.

The MUFG Union Bank Foundation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, serves as an agent for charitable contributions made by MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Throughout its history, the Foundation has supported the bank's commitment to help meet the needs of the communities it serves.

Our vision
A sustainable and aspiring society with equitable access to opportunity.

Our mission
Make philanthropic investments that expand access to economic opportunity in low- and moderate-income communities specifically in the areas of affordable housing, community economic development, education, human services and the environment.

Our focus
We believe that the MUFG Union Bank Foundation can achieve the greatest impact on the health of communities by targeting the following strategic funding categories:

• Affordable Housing: Improve housing stability and influence public policy
  • Housing development and rehabilitation
  • Emergency/transitional/permanent housing
  • Public Policy
• Economic Development: Catalyze economic growth and prosperity
  • Small business support and innovation
  • Job training and career development
  • Financial education
    • Money management/credit counseling
    • Homeownership counseling
  • Scholarships
• Stewardship and Sustainability: Support environmental and social well-being
  • Youth development
    • Arts education
    • Environmental education
    • STEM
    • Tutoring/homework help
  • Basic needs (Food security)
  • Land preservation and resource conservation
  • Clean water
  • Clean energy

Our Corporate Sponsorships program is intended to enhance our reputation and visibility by supporting the charitable work of our employees, clients, and customers.

Our Vision
A sustainable and aspiring society with equitable access to opportunity.

Our Mission
Make philanthropic investments that expand access to economic opportunity in low- and moderate-income communities specifically in the areas of affordable housing, community economic development, education, human services and the environment.

Our Focus
We provide donations and sponsorships in the following broad program areas, but focus on the three priority areas and associated subcategories italicized below:

• Affordable Housing: Improve housing stability and influence public policy
  • Housing development and rehabilitation
  • Emergency/transitional/permanent housing
  • Public Policy
• Economic Development: Catalyze economic growth and prosperity
  • Small business support and innovation
  • Job training and career development
  • Financial education
    • Money management/credit counseling
    • Homeownership counseling
  • Scholarships
• Stewardship and Sustainability: Support environmental and social well-being
  • Youth development
    • Arts education
    • Environmental education
    • STEM
    • Tutoring/homework help
  • Basic needs (Food security)
  • Land preservation and resource conservation
  • Clean water
  • Clean energy

• Arts & Culture
• Emergency Services
• Health

We are particularly interested in donations and sponsorships supporting low-income populations and those that promote and enhance diversity in all forms.

The MUFG Union Bank Foundation focuses on philanthropic investments predominately devoted to low-to-moderate-income communities in three primary strategic areas:

1. Affordable Housing
2. Economic Development
3. Stewardship and Sustainability

In addition, the Foundation supports many local community programs. We drive for results that ultimately propel our communities to a better financial future. 

Our 2019 application process is open through October 31st. Any applications submitted beyond the giving cycle will be accepted by invitation only. 

To apply, please click here

Link to complete grant application - PDF format: 
Complete Grant Application 

Note: We migrated to a new grants management system in June 2018 and you may need to establish new access the grant application. 

If you have questions, please reach out to the foundation staff in your region as specified below. 

Region - Central Valley, Northern California
Ashley Abenoja Bocek 
(559) 436-2440
[email protected]

Region - Atlanta, California Central Coast, Chicago, New York, Texas
Susan Cavalli 
(805) 882-3826 
[email protected]

Region - Pacific Northwest 
Karen Murakami 
(415) 765-3890 
[email protected]

Region - Los Angeles, Orange County, Imperial County, Inland Empire, San Diego
JR Raines 
(619) 230-3105 
[email protected]

The Corporate Social Responsibility Staff, Foundation Leadership Team, and Community Advisory Board.

At Union Bank we are committed to reinvesting in the communities where we conduct business. We encourage you to contact us with suggestions, comments, questions, and referrals about community events and sponsorships. 

As part of the MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Community Service Action Plan (link to PDF), our Corporate Social Responsibility Staff actively supports community groups and participates in hundreds of community outreach events every year in our markets. 

The MUFG Union Bank Foundation Leadership Team implements the guiding principles of the foundation and creates partnerships with local communities, volunteers, and bank employees to help fund the efforts of nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of others.  

Our bank relies on the guidance and support of its Community Advisory Board in developing and refining our community development policies and programs. This board helps guide us through our decade-long community reinvestment commitment. 

Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division implements the guiding principles of the MUFG Union Bank, N.A. CSR program. As part of this program, we create partnerships with local communities, volunteers, and bank employees to help meet goals to stabilize or revitalize low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, promote social equity, and support environmental concerns in the activities and enterprises we support.

Our program is based on the principle of sustainability. We work hard to:

• Foster economic, social, and environmental sustainability
• Promote financial prosperity, sociocultural equity, and diversity
• Conserve natural resources to preserve and improve the environment

As part of the MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Community Service Action Plan (link to PDF), CSR staff members are actively involved in helping to drive credit, capital, and services to LMI communities throughout the bank's marketplace. CSR also manages the bank's charitable contributions program, including grants made through the MUFG Union Bank Foundation, as well as donations and sponsorships made directly by the bank.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions relating to the MUFG Union Bank, N.A., CSR program.

Corporate social responsibility team

Julius Robinson
Managing Director
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer & Group Head, Corporate Social Responsibility Chairman and CEO of the MUFG Union Bank Foundation

Kathy Patoff
Chief Operating Officer,
MUFG Union Bank Foundation

Fred Mendez
Managing Director,
Community/Environmental/Government Relations

Richard Chacon
Director, Supplier Diversity

Michael Innis-Thompson
Managing Director, Community Lending

Bobbie Salgado
Director, CRA Strategy & Operations

More than two decades ago, MUFG Union Bank established the nation’s first multi-year Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) commitment, which included the establishment of our industry’s first Corporate Social Responsibility Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB is diverse and composed of individuals with extensive expertise in regulatory issues, banking, small business lending, credit union, social venture capital, microfinance, nonprofits, affordable housing, and other areas of community and economic development. Their role is to help guide the bank through its current five-year Community Service Action Plan (CSAP) commitment, and to connect us with their network of industry experts so that we can address the financial service needs of our community. 

Gabriel del Rio
CAB Chair
President/CEO
Springboard CDFI

Tunua Thrash-Ntuk
CAB Vice Chair
Executive Director
Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Los Angeles

Thomas P. FitzGibbon, Jr.
Member Board Director
Evergreen Bank

Susan Howard
Western District Community Affairs Officer (Retired)
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Hyepin Im
President/CEO & Founder
Faith and Community Empowerment

Vivienne Lee
Regional Director
Southern California – Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF)

David Lizarraga
Founder & Chairman
TELACU Education Foundation

Kristen Ollendorff
Director of Commercial Lending
Clearinghouse CDFI

Beth Sirull
President & CEO
Jewish Community Foundation

Claudia Viek
Founder
Invest in Women Entrepreneurship Initiative

Robert Villarreal
EVP & President
Small Business Finance Fund CDF

The leadership team implements the guiding principles of the MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Corporate Social Responsibility program and creates partnerships with local communities, volunteers, and bank employees to help finance the efforts of nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of others.

Julius E. Robinson 
Julius E. Robinson is the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer & Group Head, Corporate Social Responsibility Chairman, and CEO of the 
MUFG Union Bank Foundation. Julius has been with the bank since 1997 and assumed leadership of the CSR Group in January 2010.

Julius is a natural choice to lead the group given his unwavering commitment and involvement in the community. Julius serves on the boards of Students Rising Above and Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). He is also Chairman of Operation Hope’s Western Regional Board and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Alliant University. “These organizations are dedicated to educational advancement and financial independence for our youth,” Julius says, “and helping deserving young people reach their academic and professional potential is a source of great satisfaction for me.”

Kathy Patoff 
Kathy Patoff is Chief Operating Officer of the MUFG Union Bank Foundation. She has diverse professional experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors and has been with the bank for 11 years, most recently serving as Director with regional community outreach and foundation responsibilities in San Diego and the Inland Empire. Kathy is responsible for overall strategy, operations, and implementation of the MUFG Union Bank charitable contributions program.

Kathy serves on The University of San Diego Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research Advisory Board and the San Diego Grantmakers Advisory Board.

Investing in our communities

Partnering. Investing. Building. We believe these are ways we can help communities thrive. By providing the right financial tools and lending our support, we are working with communities to create a solid foundation for the future. 

In 2016 Union Bank launched its third Community Service Action Plan for $40 billion, reflecting the bank’s strong commitment to the communities we serve. A copy of the 2016 CRA 5-Year Commitment is available upon request made to [email protected]. 

The MUFG Union Bank, N.A., 2016-2020 Community Service Action Plan (CSAP) outlines the bank’s five-year community commitment. The CSAP has 11 tenets of focus: Economic Development, Small Business Lending, Multi-family Affordable Housing Lending, Single Family Affordable Housing Lending, Branch Technology and Deposit Products, Philanthropy, Environmental Stewardship, Community Advisory Board, Supplier Diversity, Innovation, and Workforce and Board Diversity. This marks the bank’s third CSAP in more than 20 years.

Diversity lending: Loans to nonprofit organizations and businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans

Community development finance: Affordable housing loans and tax credits for community development

Low- to moderate-income markets: Special checking products and mortgages to help low- to moderate-income consumers build a sound financial future

Supplier diversity: Supporting diversity in our suppliers by using businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans

Foundation grants: Charitable contributions with a focus on affordable housing, education, community economic development, and the environment

Five Tenets of Responsible Banking

Financial products to fit your needs
Union Bank is committed to helping you achieve your financial goals with an array of products to fit the needs of the broad range of communities we serve. Some of those products are listed below:

Low cost account options: Special checking products for those with basic checking needs or low-income individuals

Economic opportunity mortgage: Designed for low- to moderate-income households, or homeowners in a qualifying census area

Small business loans: Government-assisted and SBA programs for businesses unable to obtain financing through standard programs

Community development finance: Loan programs to support multi-family projects in rural areas and to support special needs populations in need of affordable housing

Union Bank is committed to promoting economic vitality in the communities we serve. That's why we created our Supplier Diversity & Development office. Our goal is simple: to increase the number of diverse business enterprises from which we buy products and services. We want to help your business do business with us. 


What we can do for you

• Teach you how to become part of our contracting and procurement process.
• Match your company's products and services with the needs of Union Bank.
• Help you gain recognition with the bank's purchasing decision makers.

To be eligible, 51 percent of your company must be owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizen individuals who belong to one of these groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, women, veterans, LGBTQ, or Small Business Enterprises. 


Step 1: Obtain a vendor information form
Email your request to: [email protected] or call 1-800-821-5351
Include in your request a description of the product and/or services your company provides.

Step 2: Complete and mail the form
Mail a copy of the vendor information form and a detailed description of your business to: 

Union Bank 
Supplier Diversity & Development Office 
350 California Street, 11th Floor 
MC H-11001  
San Francisco, CA 94104 

Or email the form to: [email protected]

Step 3: Verification 
The bank will verify that your business is currently certified or self-certified as a diverse business enterprise.

Step 4: Activation 
Once we verify that your company meets the diverse business enterprise requirements, we will add your company to our supplier diversity database of potential suppliers. Your information will be reviewed by a Supplier Diversity Manager within 45 business days of receipt. 

Please note, however, that outreach will only occur if there is an immediate interest for an upcoming sourcing project.

Step 5: We contact you
We will contact you should we need additional information, or when your company profile matches our need for products and services.

In a constantly evolving world, we need new, innovative ideas to solve society’s most pressing problems. MUFG is dedicated to finding these cutting-edge solutions and tailoring our community support to achieve the most impact. While solutions may change, MUFG’s values of Integrity, Respect, Service, Collaboration, Inclusion, and Stewardship endure, consistently guiding us as we give back to the communities where we do business.

Download the CSR annual report