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Environmental, Social & Governance

Our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Commitment

At Bridgewater, we are committed to establishing and advancing impactful initiatives that support our corporate responsibility as a growing local bank in the Twin Cities, while regularly sharing our progress with our stakeholders.

“In 2021, Bridgewater took the important first step of formalizing an internal program to monitor, prioritize and report on key initiatives that address environmental, social and governance-related risks impacting our business. We believe our commitment to ESG is well-aligned with our core values and unconventional corporate culture. As a small-cap bank in the Twin Cities, we look forward to building on our current ESG initiatives and doing our part to make a positive impact in our communities.”

Image of Bridgewater team member, Jerry Baack.

Jerry Baack, Chairman, CEO and President

Our ESG Priorities

Team Members, Clients & Communities

Leverage our unconventional corporate culture to leave a positive lasting impact on our team members, clients and communities.

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment and community.

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Corporate Governance

Ensure strong corporate governance oversight including an effective risk management framework to support a growing organization.

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Environmental Impact

Contribute to a healthier natural environment in the communities in which we live and work.

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ESG Oversight

In October 2021, the Bridgewater Bancshares Board of Directors changed the name of the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” to “Nominating and ESG Committee” to emphasize its commitment to and oversight of ESG. The committee's responsibilities have expanded to take on the role of overseeing Bridgewater’s strategy and practices related to environmental, social and governance issues. The charter for the Nominating and ESG Committee can be found here.

In addition to board-level oversight, a management-level ESG Committee was formed in 2021 with the role of developing, implementing and growing a formal ESG program at Bridgewater. This cross-functional committee has conducted a peer gap analysis and materiality assessment to help identify the aspects of ESG with the most impact on our business and assist the Nominating and ESG Committee of the Board in developing a formal ESG strategy. The ESG Committee is focused on emphasizing current ESG initiatives at Bridgewater, implementing future ESG initiatives, and monitoring and communicating progress on ESG to stakeholders.