ShoreBank was the first community development bank in the United States, established in 1973 in Chicago. Its mission focused on promoting economic redevelopment in low- and moderate-income urban neighborhoods by supporting local businesses, housing, and job creation. The bank combined commercial banking with real estate development, nonprofit loan funds, and international consulting to address community development comprehensively.

ShoreBank offered a variety of financial products tailored to community needs, including commercial banking services, real estate development financing, and loans for small businesses and affordable housing projects. It also engaged in international microfinance consulting, assisting banks in Russia and Eastern Europe with small business lending. The bank primarily served low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on inner-city neighborhoods and economically distressed areas, and aimed to support viable businesses that provided essential goods, services, and jobs.