Just about anything that Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and CEO Lloyd Blankfein (Lloyd Blankfein news) do these days is going to be greeted with skepticism and even cynicism. So what to make of the bank's efforts to save ShoreBank, a small Chicago-based community bank that was told by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in March it had 60 days to raise capital?

According to the Financial Times, Blankfein "has been making phone calls to rally support for a deal that would see some of the country's biggest financial groups help the Chicago community bank." Other banks include Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and US Bancorp.

So what's the point? Pure altruism likely isn't the sole answer. Some could argue that it wants to score PR points by saving a bank that many want to see survive. The FT notes the move would help Goldman Sachs fulfill its obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act; it has more obligations in this area now that it is a bank holding company. But no matter what, it's hard not to root for a deal to be struck to save the bank. 

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