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From former Comptroller of the Currency Gene Ludwig: financial institutions are eager to serve customers with middle-class incomes. But in other parts of the country — places where a greater proportion of local residents live below the poverty line — banks are few and far between. For much of the 20th century, policymakers struggled to identify effective ways to address this inequity. But 25 years ago, Washington took a key step in establishing a federal fund to support so-called Community Development Financial Institutions that serve communities traditional banks often leave behind. Now, CDFIs have a proven track record and hold perhaps even more promise to advance financial well-being in low- and moderate-income communities.
The West 30's Redemption Company was organized only three years ago, but it's already made a lasting impression on Covington. So when Bryan Burns, the group's founder, said a recent grant to the organization is the "single most impactful thing to ever happen to us," it's reason to take notice. The West 30's Redemption Company announced on Nov. 22 it received a $120,000 grant from The First, a National Banking Association, as well as the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas. The event was marked by a ceremonial ribbon cutting held Nov. 22 at the Northshore Community Foundation offices in downtown Covington. Burns has reason to highlight the significance of the grant. He said within the next 12-15 months, the money will make it possible for 12 lower-income families to make down payments on loans to purchase their first homes.
In the so-called 'new age' of banking, the shift in attention to tech-focused content is a clear indication that bankers are taking technology more seriously than they ever have. Count long-time Chief Executive Officer William A. “Bill” Ray in that number. “To keep up with technology in banking today, you have to expose yourself to what’s out there and study it because there is so much to choose from,” said Ray, who has served as the bank’s top officer since 1986. “Then, you have to invest in what you believe are the best technologies for your customers, employees and your systems. “We have made that a major initiative at BankPlus”.
On Wednesday, November 20th, the Clinton Foundation hosted the "Economic Inclusion and Growth: The Way Forward" conference at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the CDFI Fund and to honor the leaders of the CDFI industry. At the conference, Former President Bill Clinton recognized CDBA CEO Jeannine Jacokes by discussing her role as the leader of the trade association for CDFI banks, as well as a leader in the loan fund space as the CEO of Partners for the Common Good (PCG). Specifically, he lauded the recent work of CDBA and PCG on the Impact at Scale Initiative, the first industry training program focused on large-scale impact.
On Wednesday, November 20th, the Clinton Foundation hosted the "Economic Inclusion and Growth: The Way Forward" conference at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the CDFI Fund and to honor the leaders of the CDFI industry. At the conference, Former President Bill Clinton recognized CDBA CEO Jeannine Jacokes by discussing her role as the leader of the trade association for CDFI banks, as well as a leader in the loan fund space as the CEO of Partners for the Common Good (PCG). Specifically, he lauded the recent work of CDBA and PCG on the Impact at Scale Initiative, the first industry training program focused on large-scale impact.
The US Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund today awarded $31.37 million to 43 community development banks and bank holding companies through its CDFI Program and Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program Awards. With the awards, these banks will provide much-needed capital investments to small businesses and other critical community development projects such as affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and expansion into new geographic markets. The CDFI Program awards include Financial Assistance (FA), Technical Assistance (TA), Disability Funds, and the Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
The US Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund today awarded $31.37 million to 43 community development banks and bank holding companies through its CDFI Program and Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program Awards. With the awards, these banks will provide much-needed capital investments to small businesses and other critical community development projects such as affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and expansion into new geographic markets.
Expanding its presence into New Jersey and New York, Washington, D.C.-based Industrial Bank has acquired City National Bank of New Jersey, based in Newark. The deal means Industrial Bank will pick up two City National branches in Newark and one in Harlem, New York. The transaction came after City National Bank failed and was shut down on Nov. 1 by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The regulator appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as a receiver. City National’s operations were sold to Industrial Bank, which acquired City National’s deposits along with essentially all of its assets.
The StoryBank Project is a CDBA initiative to capture success stories of our member banks. These stories show how underserved communities benefit directly from mission-based banking and financial services. Our latest video highlights Citizens National Bank in Meridian, Mississippi. One client, Weidmann's Restaurant, will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year, making it the oldest continuously running restaurant in Mississippi. Another client, Adrian Cross, was able to buy a home for the first time.
In the 1980s, Michael Milken embodied Wall Street greed. A swashbuckling financier, he was charged with playing a central role in a vast insider-trading scheme and was sent to prison for violating federal securities and tax laws. He was an inspiration for the Gordon Gekko character in the film "Wall Street." Mr. Milken has spent the intervening decades trying to rehabilitate his reputation through an influential nonprofit think tank, the Milken Institute, devoted to initiatives “that advance prosperity.” These days, the Milken Institute is a leading proponent of a new federal tax break that was intended to coax wealthy investors to plow money into distressed communities known as “opportunity zones.” The institute’s leaders have helped push senior officials in the Trump administration to make the tax incentive more generous, even though it is under fire for being slanted toward the wealthy. Mr. Milken, it turns out, is in a position to personally gain from some of the changes that his institute has urged the Trump administration to enact. In one case, the Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, directly intervened in a way that benefited Mr. Milken, his longtime friend.