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Discussion Paper
Taking Stock of Community Development Financial Institutions
Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven organizations that expand financial product and service options to lower-income households, small businesses, and communities. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 created the Federal Reserve's community development function, which is tasked with promoting economic growth and financial stability for low- to moderate-income communities. Because CDFIs support access to credit in low- and moderate-income areas, the Federal Reserve has a direct interest in understanding CDFIs' role in capital access and the landscape of the ...
Discussion Paper
Tracing the History of Community Development Credit Unions
When the Community Reinvestment Act was passed in the late 1970s, Congress tasked the 12 Federal Reserve Banks with ensuring that supervised financial institutions meet the credit needs of the communities they serve. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven lenders that help provide credit in underserved areas. As we gather information on CDFIs through the 2025 Federal Reserve CDFI Survey, we want to examine the roots of community development finance and the evolution of CDFIs.This post focuses on the history of one type of CDFI: community development credit ...