History 

Founded in 2003, Ariva works to better serve the financial services and access needs of the limited-income and low-wealth residents primarily in the South Bronx and throughout New York City.  We have been committed to our vision that New York neighborhoods should not be abandoned and left vulnerable to predatory financial services simply because they are poor or because of the perception that it is less profitable to do business in poorer markets.  While we recognize that there is a growing emphasis on serving the unbanked and the underserved, we also recognize that any scalable and sustainable solution must design products that are both attractive and affordable to the market and can help consumers move towards greater wealth accumulation while promoting community economic development and preventing asset-stripping practices.  

To this end, Ariva works to promote innovation, to provide access, and to inspire hope in limited-income and low-wealth New Yorkers so that they can successfully move from poverty to greater economic self-sufficiency and independence.  For the last five years, Ariva has developed or participated in a range of programs such as:  New York City’s $ave NYC tax savings account; financial education counseling and classes; free tax preparation through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA); and, developing alternatives to predatory lending products with a financial institution partner.