CDFI Certification

Empowering the Credit Union Mission Through Capital and Regulatory Relief

Secure funding. Expand lending. Deepen your impact. Our unique approach to CDFI Certification, Reporting, and Compliance is purpose-built for credit unions—streamlining complexity and delivering industry-leading results.

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Badge with city skyline silhouette and green ribbon reading 'CDFI CERTIFIED'.

Why CDFI Certification is a Game-Changer

Credit unions face increasing challenges, but those with CDFI Certification are growing stronger.

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Current Challenges

Declining numbers across the industry

Rising costs and regulatory burdens

Difficulty attracting younger members

Learn more about CDFI
CDFI Fund Grants

Technology and infrastructure

Operational efficiency and compliance

Lending and financial product expansion

Community engagement and outreach

Strategic Advantages
*Certification provides exemption from the member business lending cap

Track record: We've helped small and midsize credit unions transition into new charters that better reflect their member bases 
and open growth opportunities.

Why Most Credit Unions Struggle and How We Make the Process Easier

Becoming and staying Certified is complex:

60% Target Market lending thresholds

Target Market accountability requirements

Requirements for development services

Annual data reporting and compliance

Our custom-built software, combined with strategic expertise, ensures that our clients can obtain certification more easily, monitor it seamlessly, and never risk losing it.

Monitor Target Market Lending Levels at all Times

Our custom-built software, combined with strategic expertise, ensures that our clients can obtain certification more easily, monitor it seamlessly, and never risk losing it.

Real-time Monitoring:
‍Review your current data and eligibility.

Compliance Assurance: 

Never risk losing certification with proactive alerts and recommendation.

Dynamically Map the Most Favorable Custom Investment Area

Even Smaller Optimizations can Yield Major Impact

Pre-Custom Investment

Credit unions may appear to fall below the CDFI Fund’s 60% Target Market Lending requirement because lending in certain census tracts does not qualify under standard Investment Area definitions. Even when activity spans distressed communities, loans in nearby non-qualified tracts may not count toward the Target Market calculation.

Post-Custom Investment

Custom Investment Areas allow a credit union to define a geographically contiguous area that meets the CDFI Fund’s economic distress criteria at the aggregate level. By aligning the Investment Area definition with the institution’s actual lending footprint, loans in certain previously non-qualifying tracts can be included in the Target Market calculation, which often increases the reported Target Market Lending percentage and can move an institution above the 60% threshold, strengthening readiness for CDFI certification.

Leverage Actionable Lending Improvement Recommendations Based on Your Data

Additional Solutions to Achieve
CDFI Program Goals

Forward Flow Partners provide a consistent pipeline of CDFI-qualifying loans

Leverage loan participants to help meet CDFI requirements

Target households for CDFI purposes through custom marketing lists

Integrate CDFI Target Market Qualification into your credit union’s existing workflows

What Customers Are Saying

"In today's competitive nonprofit landscape, funding doesn't just go to the most deserving organizations- it goes to those who know their missions and how to tell their story effectively. That's exactly what CUCollaborate has done for us. In this application- completed under a tight deadline- they took the data we provided and delivered clear reporting, ensured compliance, and helped position us for renewal and future grant opportunities."

Pam McLain
Ferguson FCU

"We had no expectation this year of getting LID back, but when we were able to feel like we were ready to submit, and then it came back that we met the LID threshold. It was super exciting."

Matt Lehman
VP of Finance at Everence Federal Credit Union

"It was so easy to use the visualization. We pulled it up in a board meeting and were able to show why we wanted to focus on certain areas and where we saw opportunity—looking at where members are and aren’t, and identifying low-income census tracts where we could better reach potential members."

Lisa Church
VP of Retail Strategy, ABNB Credit Union

“ Thank you for the tremendous, tremendous support, effort, ingenuity, creativity, expertise, - everything that CU Collaborate brought to the table on our behalf. You hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth with two on and two out, man.​ ​ We genuinely appreciate and truly admire you and your team for what you did.”

Gary Perez
President and CEO at USC Credit Union

Meet Our Experts 

Our team brings decades of experience in credit union mergers, strategic planning, and financial modeling.

Begin Your CDFI Journey Today
Armand Parvazi
Strategic Advisor
Jason Rusten
Advisory Director
Jeff Bailey
CDFI Advisory Services Manager

Looking to Become a CDFI Certified Credit Union?

Our CDFI advisory team paired with our suite of technology solutions ensure the best possible outcome for your Credit Union.

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