Bank in American backwaters that has the answer to your prayers

[emad]

The Times
By James Doran
Christianity in US offices is on the rise — and it’s good business



HEALING with the laying on of hands is not a service one expects at a bank. Cash dispensers, it must also be said, do not normally dole out divine blessings with tenners.

But both services are standard at the Riverview Community Bank in Otsego, Minnesota where Chuck Ripka, Duane Kropuenske and their mate Larry Ihle have set up America’s first evangelical bank.

“Now we call Duane the CEO,” says Ripka, who is vice-president and spiritual leader of the bank. “But you know, Jesus is the real CEO. He gives out the orders and we receive them,” Ripka beams. He beams a lot.

An oil painting next to Ihle’s desk depicts Ripka’s celestial view of the boardroom. Named The Senior Partner, it shows the figure of Jesus, wearing a white robe, standing in the corner office of what seems to be a Wall Street skyscraper, shaking hands with two smiling men in suits. Kropuenske and Ripka have been in local banking all their working lives. But 20 months ago they struck out on their own to found an institution based on Christian principles.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1397960,00.html

[Bill McBlueState]

1. embarrassing

It's so embarrassing when this stuff makes the international papers. Sigh.

[emad]

4. "The Lord Has told me...."

Ripka is more ambitious. “The Lord has told me that he has international plans for this bank. First we will have branches all over America, and in my lifetime we will be worldwide,” he says. “We are about three years ahead of our business plan,” Ripka beams once more.

“We will be showing a small profit at the end of this year,” Kropuenske adds in a more sombre tone.

The mission statement in Riverview’s annual report explains some of what makes the bank different from its competitors. “To enhance Christian and financial well- being for our stakeholders,” it states. The strategies section goes further: “Use the bank’s Christian principles to expand Christianity.”

While Riverview’s mission may differ from other less God-fearing banks, its modus operandi does not. The saving and lending products offered by Riverview — and the interest rates and charges — are much the same as any other bank.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1397960,00.html

MAYBE they'll put in an offer on Riggs Bank - the one that got busted for laudering $$$$$$$$$$$s for General Pinochet and Saudi terrorists and being implicated in the Equatorial Guines coup plot to steal $500million from President Obiang....

[Spiffarino]

2. "Jebus National Bank"

10% auto-draft every Sunday!

Chick tract with every transaction!

Open an IRA and get a free oil-anointing!


It is to vomit.

[iamjoy]

3. Do They Charge Interest on Loans?

I mean, a bank based on Christian principles, right?
Didn't Jesus rail againt the money changers? So when the Fed raises interest rates are these gents going to go pray and ask Jesus what they should do? (Jesus is the real CEO. He gives out the orders and we receive them.")

Hey, what if some Jew or one of them homo-sexuals wants to work there? How are they going to do that there healing?

[emad]

5. Banco Ambrosiano also based on Christian principles, like

stealing over $400 million from the Vatica, murdering it's CEO Roberto "God's Banker" Calvi and then getting immunity from prosecution from Poppy for the cheif architect of the scam, Archbishop Marcinkus....

[Why Syzygy]

6. JESUS is CEO?

wow. I bet that's news to Him, eh?
I mean, all that ambition he displayed on his supposed visit to Earth.
Ya. CEO .. my FOOT!

Where does the moronosity end? EVER?
JESUS! HELP US!

[emad]

8. "Who would JESUS bank with?"

????

[Ms_Mary]

7. How contradictory can you get? Charlatans.

[Why Syzygy]

13. YeHaw. He's a CEO of the Money Changers alrighty

Matthew 21:12 (New International Version)

Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.


Mark 11:15 (New International Version)

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,


John 2:15 (New International Version)

15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

NIV - Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


If those people observed even one tittle or dot of the TEACHINGS, I would have no problem with them.

They don't, of course. They cruise at their own speed .. dum . dum and dummer. And your worst nightmare!

[bobthedrummer]

9. Charging interest/usuary is not Christian at all.

hmmm...

[emad]

11. Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's?

??

[TheDebbieDee]

10. What I find saddest is that there are actually.....

some overly pious, religious people who will take their money out of their bank and put it in this one cuz "Jesus is the CEO!" :-)

[emad]

12. Sadder than the DU story the other week about new Kosher

credit card from Bank Leumi that you can't use on the Sabbath/Holy Days etc?

[OneBlueSky]

14. didn't Jesus throw the money-changers out of the temple? . . .

guess these guys haven't been reading their Bible . . . but then again, any relationship of the Christianoid Taliban to real Christians is . . . well . . . nonexistent . ..

[Heartland]

15. Neo-Christians not evangelicals

Start framing the issues on the new religious right in terms. Neo Christians

Believe they:
can judge others
Have greater significance in the eyes of the God, Jesus or whatever.
Deserve greater rewards
And are exempt from the teachings of Christianity that pertain to worldly goods, money, property, taxes--etc.

So please start using the term Neo-Christian more often.

[rucky]

22. I Like that

never been comfortable lumping the evangelicals together like that, seeing as there are quite a few who know that Falwell, Bush & co are frauds.

[reprobate]

16. At last America has a place in the world-international comedian.

It's not hard to imagine the guffaws issueing from all the meetings in europe. They now see us no longer as the leader of the free world.

We are now the WVI----the World's Village Idiot.

[RebelOne]

17. I can't read the whole story from the link.

You have to register and it's not free.

[Why Syzygy]

24. Try this one:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5118222.html
(cut)
Ripka has gotten national attention for his ambitious plan to win souls while competing with other financial institutions for the almighty dollar. The bank has had unquestionable success, going from about $5 million in deposits 17 months ago to $75 million today; Ripka says it is the fastest start-up bank in the state.

But some worry about the uneasy marriage of religion, money and even politics in the fast-growing area where Hennepin, Wright and Sherburne counties converge.
(cut)

ehehe . "Almighty Dollar".
Hey! What is the object of worship here?

Also:
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/business/industries/10271659.htm

[RebelOne]

27. Much thanks.

[sleipnir]

18. Does this mean they'll be giving cash for free?

Matthew 5:42- "Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you."

From the World English Bible, Jesus on the subject of begging and borrowing.

So does this mean if I go in and ask for $50, they have to give it to me? Or if my credit is a wreck they can't turn me down for a $500,000 loan?

[grilled onions]

19. Jesus Saves...

...Here or in other words In God we trust. Everyone else pay cash!

[VegasWolf]

20. An invisible man in the sky is CEO, sign me up! n/t

[VegasWolf]

21. A dashboard Jesus with each new account of $500.00. n/t

[Straight Shooter]

23. Bobblehead dashboard Jesus with each new account of $1,000 n/t

[sonicx]

25. does Jesus pay his workers good wages?

[Sara Beverley]

26. They will have to forgive all loans in the 50th year. Jubilee.

Oh, these Christians.

[tsuki]

28. The senior partner? Words fail me, totally.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

29. These people are making money using Jesus as an ad tool.

That sickens me.

[NYC]

30. Does Jesus get a salary?

Most CEOs get paid.

[VegasWolf]

31. Heard they have a special room where you can roll on the floor

if you feel the need to.