The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique setting to examine whether, and how, the community social capital shaped the banks’ responses during a period of severe disruption. Using a recently proposed measure that captures banks’ actions during the pandemic’s first wave, we analyze a sample of listed U.S. banks. Our results show a positive relationship between county-level social capital and responsible banking behavior. When disaggregating social capital, we find that family unity, institutional health, and collective efficacy are positively related to responsible banking.  Breaking down the responsible banking indicator into its sub-dimensions shows that social capital is positively associated with banks’ self-initiatives and charitable activities. Moreover, the locality of bank operations appears to moderate the relationship between social capital and responsible banking. Overall, the evidence suggests that banks in high social capital areas pursue community-oriented initiatives, and that social capital can complement policy efforts to advance ethical and responsible banking.