Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment and community.
A Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)
Bridgewater Bank recognizes that different perspectives enhance our thinking and improve our team members’ experience by bringing together unique backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. With operations centered in the Twin Cities market, we are committed to doing our part to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and our broader community.
DE&I Overview
DE&I Policy
In 2024, Bridgewater adopted a DE&I Policy supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and cultivating a workplace that values each individual. This includes a focus on equality in employment, inclusive culture, and community engagement.
Together with our Human Rights Policy, which was also adopted in 2024, we remain dedicated to a workplace that respects, values and supports all team members.
DE&I Committee
In 2019, Bridgewater Bank established a DE&I Committee which aims to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diversity of our team members and communities in which we live and work. The committee is made up of 10 team members from various levels and functions across the organization. It is organized around three themes aimed at fostering diversity awareness among team members by way of education, communication, and service within our community.
DE&I Book Club
In 2023, the DE&I Committee hosted its third annual Book Club featuring The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. Nearly 45 team members participated in the book club, engaging in thoughtful conversations around gender roles, survival, and empowerment. This follows previous Book Clubs in 2021 and 2022, which featured Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell and Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho.
Featured Holidays
Each month, the DEI Committee strives to internally communicate and recognize diverse events and holidays in an effort to increase our cultural knowledge and create a more inclusive work environment for all of our team members. This is done through educating our team members about various holidays and how these holidays are observed. The benefits are endless – from creating more productive relationships to making more insightful decisions.
Below are the holidays we are recognizing this month:
- Women's History Month - March 1st-31st
- Ramadan - March 10th - April 9th (Sundown to Sundown)
- World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) - March 21st
- International Transgender Day of Visibility - March 31st
In 2023, the Committee hosted four branch activations to build greater awareness around diverse holidays through immersive, hands-on learning experiences. These activations spotlighted Lunar New Year, Pride Month, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and Diwali, engaging participants in cultural celebrations and understanding.
All-Team Diversity Training
The DE&I Committee hosted Joelle Allen of Interaction Traction to discuss awareness and education around workplace microaggressions during an All-Team Meeting in October 2023. Joelle’s discussion emphasized five crucial insights around microaggressions, reaching nearly 90% of Bridgewater team members.
Learning Library
In October 2022, the DE&I Committee introduced the Learning Library, a positive place where interested team members can learn and see what Bridgewater values when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion. The DE&I Committee believes in the power of the pen. By having written, accessible records of learning resources, we hope to provide a powerful instrument for building a culture that embraces diversity. The Learning Library is updated quarterly and found on the Bank’s intranet.
All-Team Happy Hour Event
The DE&I Committee sponsored an after-work, all-team member happy hour event highlighting Disability Pride Month. The event featured a denim drive in support of the local non-profit organization, The Arc, dedicated to advocating for the human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Donated denim was channeled to their local thrift shop, with proceeds directly supporting their mission.
Workplace Diversity
At Bridgewater, we believe our team members bring unique perspectives to their roles every day that define the culture of the organization while also allowing us to better serve the diverse needs of our client base. We are proud of the diversity we have across our workforce today:
As Bridgewater continues to grow, we are focused on attracting and retaining top talent across the organization that fits our unconventional corporate culture. Building and maintaining a diverse workforce is an important piece of this culture. We are committed to seeking out and identifying training content, recruitment initiatives, employee resource groups and community groups that support diversity and awareness at Bridgewater.
Women in Leadership
Bridgewater has demonstrated an ability to hire, retain and promote talented women throughout the organization, including in leadership roles. These women are being recognized for the leadership in the banking industry.
In 2023, Bridgewater hosted a “Brunch & Learn” to celebrate the women of the Bank. The event featured two insightful sessions geared toward women in the workplace: one centered on strengthening one’s voice and the other on balancing career and motherhood.
DE&I in the Community
Corporate Work Study Program with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Each of the past two years, Bridgewater has partnered with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School on the Corporate Work Study Program, which provides students with an educational experience through regular work assignments in a professional corporate setting. The program supports workforce development challenges by advancing diverse candidates with the social and technical skills to perform the jobs of our knowledge-based economy.
As part of the program, Bridgewater has employed Cristo Rey students in Marketing, Facilities and Deposit Services roles. The program has benefited Bridgewater by bringing new perspectives to the workplace and creating a pipeline for future talent acquisition.
Twin Cities Pride Beer Dabbler
Eighteen Bridgewater team members celebrated pride at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in June 2023, with complementary tickets provided by Bridgewater. Twin Cities Pride empowers every LGBTQ+ person to live as their true self as we value and celebrate pride throughout Minnesota.