Report: CDFI Certification Can Help Credit Unions Grow

The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
Tuesday, May 27, 2014

A new white paper by the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions compares CDFI certified credit unions to mainstream credit unions. The paper finds that on average, CDFI credit unions outstrip their mainstream peers in financial growth and performance even though more of their loans and services are located in disadvantaged communities. CDFI credit unions are also more likely than mainstream peers to offer tech services. The report notes that the CDFI credit union sector has the potential to expand significantly: nearly half of all credit unions are concentrated in economically distressed census tracts that qualify as CDFI investment areas.