"You need a loan, but the bank wants to see your credit score, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio. These standard measures of creditworthiness determine if you're likely to repay what you borrow. But what if those measures don't work for you?

For many individuals in Indian Country, traditional lending criteria may not fully capture their creditworthiness. That's where Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) step in. Instead of relying solely on conventional criteria, they sometimes evaluate borrowers using alternative criteria that reflect the realities of their communities. This flexibility is just one example of how Native CDFIs may use customized practices, products, or services to suit their clients' needs. According to a study from the Center for Indian Country Development (CICD), a variety of tailored approaches are central to many Native CDFIs' strategies and operations."