Recent News
Houston-based Fig Loans is now the first FinTech company to receive both B Corporation and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certifications. Fig uses predictive analytics to offer credit building alternatives to predatory loans. Fig's mission is to give working class Americans a second chance at building credit. And with both CDFI and B Corp awards under its belt, Fig has met two of the highest standards for social performance, transparency and accountability. "The definition of a CDFI aligns word for word with the founding vision for Fig," says Co-Founder Jeff Zhou. "We... Read more
For 45 years, the African American congregation of First Union Baptist Church has worshipped and served together in a historic building on Grand Concourse in the Bronx. However, over the last ten years the church has faced significant financial troubles. Now, Spring Bank is proud to facilitate a redesign of the location, including 45 new units of affordable housing and new retail space to help the church continue its legacy. "This was not a cookie-cutter loan request," says Akbar Rizvi, the bank's Chief Lending Officer. "But at Spring Bank we pride ourselves on making hard... Read more
The Native American Financial Officers Association (NAFOA) has awarded Red Lake the 2019 Small Deal of the Year Award for establishing a grocery store and retail complex in an area that greatly needed one. The new store eliminates a 60-mile round trip for healthy foods and everyday items for the local community. Native American Bank, the lead financing institution for the Red Lake complex, is proud to have played a small part in this success. "Native American Bank was honored to serve as a problem-solver and trusted resource for creative financial solutions," said bank... Read more
Americans seem to be managing their debt well. However, some warning signs, such as an increasing Money Anxiety Index, have appeared in recent months. The Index, developed by Analyticom's Dr. Dan Geller, measures consumer saving and spending habits with the philosophy that consumer behavior may predict economic downturn. And now, the Index appears to be foreseeing another drop. "We are in an economic slowdown," says Geller, who argues banks will need to monitor consumer behavioral trends, like the type of accounts customers use and the spending choices they make, in order to stay afloat.... Read more
JPMorgan Chase is partnering with The Harbor Bank of Maryland as part of The Financial Agent Mentor Protégé program sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The mentor program enlists large banks that currently serve as Financial Agents to the Treasury to mentor small, highly capable banks. This program helps prepare the new generation of financial institutions to succeed in responding to the dynamic and diverse challenges that arise when working with the Treasury. "We're excited about the opportunity to help black-owned community banks expand their capabilities... Read more
Banking has radically changed in recent years with technology giving rise to mostly virtual, impersonal interactions. However, community banks, and their characteristic personal touch, are still vitally important to many across the nation. And they should be, because even though they are traditionally smaller banks, they make up a staggering 92 percent of all banks in the nation. So what is it about these institutions that make them so popular? Here, Abrigo's Kylee Wooten seeks to answer that question in five ways.
Fifteen years ago, the Senate passed a resolution recognizing the month of April as a time to "highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach Americans how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits." However, research may now suggest that such programs may not be that impactful. Moreover, for many people the issue is not lack of financial knowledge, but rather the conditions of extreme inequality and income volatility that keep them down. The reality is, people who have money woes tend to already be keenly aware of their problems. For this reason, Jennifer Tescher, CEO... Read more
Earlier this month, Next City and CDBA member Community Bank of the Bay joined forces to host the annual Spaces and Places conference. This event, designed as an "unconference," intends to shine a light on community development issues affecting communities of color. These are issues often ignored by urban planners and design communities, but are nonetheless in dire need of attention. This year's workshop explored collective and cooperative power, affordability in housing, homelessness, climate change displacement and environmental justice, and the needs of black cultural... Read more
The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund was created under the Clinton Administration, but its roots are much deeper than that. No one knows those roots better than Clifford Rosenthal, who recently completed "Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement," a 556-page history of mission-driven lending and investing in the United States. "What is totally unique about the CDFI Fund in policy history is that it provides capital — not loans, but discretionary capital — to build your balance sheet," says Rosenthal.
The recent #BankBlack social media campaign has brought black banking back into the national consciousness. The movement has inspired thousands of people across the country to transfer or deposit millions of dollars into black-owned banks for the first time. With this support, black-owned banks invest in urban communities, employ African Americans, and inspire black home ownership. For those considering making the change, here is a list of 13 banks to consider, including CDBA members United Bank, Industrial Bank, Harbor Bank of Maryland,... Read more
Washington, DC's historic U Street has served a long tenure as the vibrant heart of African American culture and entrepreneurship in the city. And after countless historical turning points and ensuing riots, three black-owned businesses have weathered decades-long hurdles to offer a glimpse into the tight-knit community and bustling neighborhood as it once stood. Ben's Chili Bowl, Lee's Flower Shop and CDBA member Industrial Bank all opened their doors in the mid-1900s and are still run by the second, third, and fourth generations of the same families. They maintain tight... Read more
This month, South Carolina Community Bank officially changed its name to Optus Bank. The bank will also complete its conversion to a new core banking system and upgraded products and services on May 13th. The new brand is designed to highlight progress made by the bank, which was removed last March from the FDIC's troubled bank list. In 2018, the bank realized its first year of profitability and growth in 10 years, according to a news release from Optus. "We purposefully delayed the name change until the bank was healthy, profitable and able to deliver on our brand promise... Read more
At first glance, a "video teller" installed in New Hebron may seem more impersonal than a traditional bank branch. However, for Peoples Bank this new bit of technology has allowed bankers to personally interact with a whole new set of customers. The machine, stationed in a location far from a physical branch, allows customers to live video chat with a real teller at another nearby Peoples Bank location. "We typically have two to three different employees who are serving that role as a live teller," said Ashley M. Jones, vice president of marketing. "The tellers on our end... Read more
Many bank executives are excited about the benefits created by Opportunity Zones. However, other banks are still wondering if participation in them is even feasible. CDBA's Jeannine Jacokes offers her insights in this special report from American Banker. The article also features CDBA members Dominik Mjartan of Optus Bank, Tom Nida of City First Bank, Adam Northup of Virginia Community Capital, and Bill Dana of the Central Bank of Kansas City, all of whom support stronger regulations for Opportunity Zone projects.
Banks have made more than $1 trillion in community development lending from 1996 to 2017, benefiting low- and moderate-income communities, as a result of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements. While this level of financing is impressive, we do not know enough about where it is going in order to determine whether it is targeted effectively to the most underserved and distressed communities. In other words, we need better data. In a recent speech at the 2019 Just Economy Conference, Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard suggested that data on community development financing is... Read more
As a senior vice president at Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), one of Bert Feuss' primary jobs is to decide where to invest the money that comes from donors. But when he went looking for a bank to deposit with, he specifically wanted one that would sign on to the Anti-Displacement Code of Conduct. This pledge would ensure that the financial institution would avoid making loans to developers who rely on the eviction of existing residents. While other banks hesitated, The Community Bank of the Bay was more than happy to agree. CDBA members Amalgamated Bank... Read more
This week's CDBA Storybank video highlights The Bank of Cherokee County in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, one of the first Native Community Development Financial Institutions in the country. Its featured clients are small business owners who have developed the Bright Start child care center and the Go Ye Village retirement home, both of which serve the community of Tahlequah. The Bank of Cherokee County "is not just a bank," says Go Ye Village's Steve Thomas. "They're more of a partner in the process."
Historically Black-owned banks have been a foundational pillar for the community by providing African Americans access to financial services and capital for businesses. Now, with movements such as #BankBlack, social media has brought awareness to the importance of banking Black and using our money to back these institutions. For those interested in making the shift over, Rolling Out recommends five high-performing black banks, including CDBA's Industrial Bank, OneUnited Bank, and The Harbor Bank of Maryland.
This week, The Clearinghouse CDFI announced a $195,000 investment in Native American Bank, the only Native American-owned, nationwide financial institution. With this investment, Clearinghouse CDFI becomes Native American Bank's first CDFI investor out of thirty-four different shareholders. "We are pleased to make this investment," said Clearinghouse CDFI President and CEO Douglas Bystry. "We are excited to partner with them in providing affordable and flexible financial services to Native American and Alaskan Native individuals, enterprises, and governments."
The number of community banks in our nation is at the lowest point in recent history. From a high of 18,033 in 1985, we've come to just 5,477 as of the third quarter of 2018. Additionally, many community banks have sold to larger institutions as heavy consolidation takes over the banking sector. Local banks are especially important because they support the nation's small businesses, which employ the majority of Americans. In fact, according to the Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 49.2 percent of private-sector employment.