What financial institution did Jackie Robinson co-found?

Jackie Robinson co-founded Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned bank established in Harlem in 1964. The institution was created to serve Harlem’s Black community and expand access to banking and credit at a time when racial discrimination limited financial opportunities for many African Americans.

Robinson became involved in the bank as part of his continuing work after baseball. Following his retirement, he was active in business, civil rights, journalism, and community development. Freedom National Bank was founded by a group of investors that included Robinson and Dunbar Simms McLaurin, and it was described at the time as a biracial institution.

The bank’s main office stood at 275 West 125th Street in Harlem. It became one of the largest Black-owned banks in the United States and competed with other institutions serving Black New Yorkers, including the older Carver Federal Savings and Loan Association.

Freedom National Bank eventually closed in 1990 after facing loan defaults, internal divisions, and the effects of a recession. A common mix-up is treating Robinson’s business legacy as limited to baseball; his post-playing career included major roles in corporate leadership, banking, and civil-rights advocacy.