CDFIs and banks are natural partners whose complementary strengths expand access to capital and financing for community development. Banks provide significant financial resources, liquidity, and scale, while CDFIs contribute deep local knowledge, specialized underwriting, and strong relationships in communities that may be harder for traditional institutions to reach. This collaboration allows banks to deploy capital more effectively in underserved markets, while CDFIs help ensure financing is structured in ways that meet local needs.
The following stories illustrate how banks and CDFIs combine liquidity, balance sheet strength, and community-rooted underwriting to deliver financing that reaches underserved markets while maintaining strong performance and accountability. The stories describe collaborative investments in rural Appalachian Kentucky that expanded healthcare access and created jobs after a hospital closure and a $25 million bank investment expected to support up to $250 million in small business financing nationwide.
Annual Impact: Banks provide an estimated $15–$25 billion annually in capital to CDFIs.
Stories from the 2026 Progress Report
Lendistry Warehouse Capital Access Fund
- Lendistry
TD Bank Partnership Strengthens Entrepreneurship
Rebuilding Care and Opportunity in Appalachian Kentucky
- Williamsburg,
- Kentucky
- Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
Expanding healthcare access through CDFI–bank collaboration
Additional Bank Partnership Stories
Embroidery Business Sews a Missing Thread in Alabama
- Oxford,
- Alabama
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Alabama-based Epiphanys recently received a $350,000 acquisition loan from LISC to expand its capacity to serve federal agencies and fuel growth through new contracts. The loan was supported by Truist, Mackenzie Scott, and the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund.
From Struggle to Stability: Wells Fargo Teams Up with RCAC and VCCDC to Help Homeowners in Port Hueneme
- Port Hueneme,
- California
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation
“I’ve struggled a lot… In the end, everything turned out well thanks to you and this program.”
NeighborhoodLIFT Program: Natima Lavine
- East Orange,
- New Jersey
- New Jersey Community Loan Fund
After years of living in East Orange, Natima Lavine set her sights on buying a home in the heart of her community. The mother of five turned to NeighborhoodLIFT, a program in partnership with Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks America designed to boost homeownership for Essex County residents.
Chicago Events Planner Achieves Long-Time Dream With Help From LISC
- Chicago,
- Illinois
- LISC
Ardul Aquino founded Tu Party Chicago in 2012 to make events at any price point possible, starting small by renting tables, chairs and tents for parties and events. Aquino dreamed of purchasing a location to offer to clients to host their events and better serve his clientele. With support from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Fund, LISC financed a $528,000 acquisition loan for Tu Party to purchase their first commercial property. LISC underwriters worked with Aquino in Spanish, his first language, to get his loan materials together.
Chemical Manufacturer Expands Production, Accelerates Growth with LISC Small Business Loan
- Chicago,
- Illinois
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Cedar Concepts is a chemical manufacturing plant in the U.S. This past year, LISC made a $1.1 million investment through our partnerships with Abbott, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo to help the firm purchase new equipment and expand its Chicago facility.
Invest Native: Sustainability on the Wind River Reservation
- Wind River,
- Wyoming
- Enterprise Community Loan Fund
Big changes are coming to the Wind River Reservation in central Wyoming! The power of collaboration shines through with financial support from Wells Fargo Foundation’s grants, paired with government funding, the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority's Energize Wind River project is helping families improve their homes and cut energy costs. #Sustainability and #smallbusinessgrowth is becoming a reality in this Tribal community.
TERRA Aleutians
- Aleutians,
- Alaska
- Clearinghouse CDFI
TERRA Network is a hybrid terrestrial fiber-optic & microwave network under development by General Communication Inc. (GCI). TERRA brings connectivity to some of Alaska’s most remote regions—delivering access to healthcare, education, and other critical public resources to more than 45,000 Native Alaskans. The TERRA Network is 3,300 miles long—further than Seattle to Miami—and includes both overland and undersea fiber.
Brushy Mountain
- Petros,
- Tennessee
- Three Roots Capital
3Roots directly financed several parts of the Brushy Mountain Prison Tourism project: the distillery, restaurant, gift shop, and concert events. 3Roots leveraged our relationship with a bank partner to ultimately provide a loan to complete initial renovations to open for business.
Clatsop Community College
- Astoria,
- Oregon
- Craft3
$10.5 million of investment into a significant renovation of the CCC campus. Established in 1958, Clatsop Community College (CCC) is the oldest accredited community college in Oregon. It offers training and instruction in professional technical fields and general education classes. In a region marked by a decline in fishing, logging, and wood products manufacturing, CCC serves individuals preparing for rural family-wage employment opportunities in emerging industries. To meet this burgeoning demand and legal requirements mandated by the Americans Disabilities Act, CCC pursued a $28 million renovation project on its historic campus. In conjunction with numerous other public and private sources, and an investment from Wells Fargo Bank, Craft3 made $10.5 million of New Markets Tax Credit capital available to Clatsop Community College. Craft3 financing helped to build Columbia-Pacific Hall, renovate Towler Hall and Patriot Hall, and demolish two dilapidated buildings. Campus upgrades included ADA accessibility and new elevators. Our investment in Clatsop Community College strengthens economic and family resilience by supporting economic growth, strengthening access to essential services and preserving assets. Clatsop Community College retained 120 full-time jobs, leveraged $17.5 million in additional funds and equity for the school, assisted 400 low-income families and strengthened local ownership of real estate. Learn more at www.clatsopcc.edu.
Tongass Federal Credit Union
- Ketchikan,
- Alaska
- Tongass Federal Credit Union
Tongass Federal Credit Unionis located in Ketchikan, Alaska. TFCU serves eight coastal communities on six islands in the boundaries of Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Started by teachers in 1963, TFCU began serving the underserved from the very beginning. Teachers were unable to receive loans from local banks because of their “seasonal” income. In 2005 TFCU began serving underserved communities when Metlakatla Indian Community leaders asked them to open a branch after Wells Fargo left their town. Since then, TFCU has opened branches and community microsites with a focus on unserved and indigenous communities in the region. TFCU is an NCUA low-income designated, and Community Development Credit Union with 8,967 members. TFCU provides a variety of products and services for the people and small businesses of their region, including credit builder loans, HUD 184 and firsttime homebuyer mortgages, and small and micro-business loans.