You may qualify for CDFI Certification!

As a credit union that serves predominantly low-income and underserved individuals and communities, you may already meet four of the six criteria needed for CDFI certification:

• your credit union is a regulated financial insitution
• your credit union membership is drawn from predominantly low-income and underserved communities and populations
• your credit union is directly accountable to members 
• you are not a governmental entity

Your credit union could be eligible for CDFI Certification if: 

• The primary mission of your credit union is to promote community development.

AND

• Your credit union offers services to help members to better manage their financial lives.

Benefits of CDFI Certification

• More than $80 million in CDFI Fund awards to credit unions since 1996.
• 98% of CDFI Fund credit union awardees have been Federation member CDCUs.
• Certified CDFIs are eligible for more than $200 million in long term, low-cost secondary capital loans from federal "TARP" program

  • Read press release here.

• Certified CDFIs eligible for capacity building programs and other forms of financial and technical assistance.

How do we apply for CDFI Certification?

• Apply on your own: Certification applications and instructions from the CDFI Fund are available here.

• Apply with Federation Assistance: The Federation can help you to prepare and submit your application as quickly and efficiently as possible.  If you would like Federation assistance, please click here.