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
Rebuilding Care and Opportunity in Appalachian Kentucky
- Williamsburg,
- Kentucky
- Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
Expanding healthcare access through CDFI–bank collaboration
Lendistry Warehouse Capital Access Fund
- Lendistry
TD Bank Partnership Strengthens Entrepreneurship
Additional Bank Partnership Stories
From ‘Poverty with a View’ to Housing Equity: Wells Fargo Teams Up with RCAC and HSNA to Bring Hope to Northern Arizona
- Flagstaff,
- Arizona
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Nearly half a century ago, the phrase “poverty with a view” was coined to poke fun at the exorbitant cost of living in Flagstaff, Arizona. Today, it serves as a bleak reminder of a worsening crisis that threatens to uproot the region’s most vulnerable communities.
Stephanie Yanes
- Essex County,
- New Jersey
- New Jersey Community Loan Fund
In 2019, New Jersey Community Capital partnered with Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks® America to bring the national NeighborhoodLIFT® Program to New Jersey to provide down payment assistance grants to families and individuals purchasing a home in Essex County.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hawaiian Community Assets
- Hilo and Līhuʻe,
- Hawaii
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Hawaiian Community Assets, Inc. (HCA) is a certified U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing counseling agency and financial education provider that aims to assist low- and moderate-income residents, especially Native Hawaiians, to achieve economic self-sufficiency. In addition to housing counseling and financial education services, HCA operates a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to enhance Native Hawaiians’ access to capital. The Wells Fargo Keeping People Housed initiative channels grant funding to HCA via Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), a national housing counseling intermediary.
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.
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.”