Find a CDFI Near You
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven lenders that provide loans and financial services in low-income and underserved communities. Search the starter directory below by name, city, or state.
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See the official list of currently certified CDFIs at cdfifund.gov
What Is a CDFI?
A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is a private financial institution with a primary mission of promoting community development. CDFIs provide loans, investments, and financial services to people and places that mainstream banks often underserve: low-income neighborhoods, rural towns, Native communities, first-time homebuyers, and small businesses that cannot get conventional credit.
CDFIs are certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's CDFI Fund. Certification requires a demonstrated community development mission, financing activity in eligible target markets, development services alongside lending, and accountability to the communities served.
Loan funds
Nonprofit lenders offering small business loans, affordable housing finance, and community facility loans with flexible underwriting.
Credit unions
Member-owned depository institutions providing checking, savings, auto, mortgage, and small business loans at fair rates.
Community banks
Mission-driven banks serving distressed areas with mortgages, commercial loans, and deposit services.
Venture capital funds
Equity investors backing businesses in low-income communities that create quality jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get a loan from a CDFI?
Anyone, but CDFIs focus on borrowers in low-income or underserved communities: first-time homebuyers, small business owners, nonprofits building community facilities, and individuals rebuilding credit. Each CDFI sets its own target market and eligibility rules, so contact the institution directly to ask about its products.
What kinds of loans and services do CDFIs offer?
Common offerings include small business and microenterprise loans, affordable home mortgages, commercial real estate and community facility financing, consumer loans, and financial counseling. CDFI credit unions and banks also offer checking and savings accounts, while loan funds typically focus on lending plus technical assistance.
How is a CDFI different from a regular bank?
A CDFI has a legally recognized primary mission of community development rather than maximizing shareholder returns. That mission shapes underwriting: CDFIs often approve borrowers with thinner credit histories, pair loans with coaching and technical assistance, and measure success in jobs created and communities served, not just profit.
Does the CDFI Fund lend directly to individuals?
No. The CDFI Fund, part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, does not make loans to individuals or finance specific projects. It certifies CDFIs and provides them with grants and other support; the CDFIs then lend to borrowers in their communities.
How do I know if a CDFI on this list is currently certified?
Certification status changes over time, and this directory is a starter sample, not the official record. Before relying on any listing, verify the institution's current certification on the CDFI Fund's official certified CDFI list at cdfifund.gov.
About This Directory
Data source. U.S. Department of the Treasury, CDFI Fund: FY 2011 CDFI Program award recipient list (public record, published at cdfifund.gov), accessed October 2026.
Coverage. This is a starter sample of 155 institutions drawn from CDFI Fund award records. The CDFI Fund reports more than 1,400 certified CDFIs nationwide, so this directory is far from complete. Institution type badges are inferred from each organization's published name and are approximate.
Currency. Certification status changes over time; some listed organizations may no longer hold CDFI certification. Always verify current certification on the official CDFI Fund list before relying on this directory: cdfifund.gov/programs-training/certification/cdfi.
Disclosure. This directory is provided for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Listings are compiled from public CDFI Fund records; inclusion does not imply endorsement. In the future, this site may feature sponsored listings or receive compensation when visitors contact a listed institution. Any sponsored placement will be clearly labeled as such.
Guides
CDFI vs Bank: Which Lender Is Right for Your Small Business?
How mission-driven underwriting actually differs, where banks still win, and a rule of thumb for which one to try first.
How to Qualify for a CDFI Loan
The three eligibility tests (community connection, financial capacity, credit and collateral), the paperwork to gather, and how to fix weak spots before you apply.