Actor and activist Jesse Williams has become the latest celebrity investor in Greenwood, a new digital banking platform aimed at Black and Latinx customers and business owners in mind.
Williams, a key actor in the long-running ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy,” joins Greenwood founders like Andrew Young, civil rights legend, former congressman, mayor of Atlanta and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; rapper and activist Killer Mike and Ryan Glover, chairman of Greenwood and founder of Bounce TV network.
“I’m excited to join the Greenwood team and work to advance economic prosperity for people of color,” Williams said. “The time has come for Black and Latinx communities in America to strengthen our economic condition and influence. By increasing access to essential banking services and financial education, Greenwood is a key part of that movement.”
The Greenwood name pays homage to “Black Wall Street,” a community in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Okla., during the early 20th century.
It was a center of African American enterprise, entertainment, wealth and capital before it was destroyed by white mobs in 1921.
The company says the Greenwood District remains an enduring symbol of the economic potential of community solidarity.
Just a month after launching, more than 200,000 people have joined the Greenwood community and the waiting list for Greenwood’s digital banking platform, according to the group.
Its initial product is a limited edition black metal debit card and account for customers who sign up by the end of the year. Advanced features include Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay, virtual debit cards, peer-to-peer transfers, mobile check deposits, and free ATM usage in over 30,000 locations with no fees.
Greenwood says customers who invite their friends to open accounts are eligible for cash rewards and all deposits will be FDIC-insured by a partner bank.
Additionally, the financial platform says it plans to provide deposits to help strengthen historically Black banks.
Williams, an activist for humanitarian and racial justice causes, won the BET Humanitarian Award in 2016 and an NAACP Image Award in 2019.
He along with Greenwood have produced a series of videos about its burgeoning financial empowerment movement, the first spot titled “You Ready,” is available on Greenwood’s social media channels now.
“Jesse Williams has long been a voice for equality and opportunity,” Glover said. “We are thrilled to have the chance to work with him. He is a perfect fit for the mission of Greenwood.”