Despite Big Influx of Capital, Black Banks Say More is Needed

American Banker
Monday, January 10, 2022

A trio of investment funds established to inject capital into minority-owned banks and community development financial institutions share the same ambitious goal: eliminating the nation's racial wealth gap. To date, however, the collective impact of MDI Keeper's Fund, the Black Bank Fund and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Mission-Driven Bank Fund has been limited. One big reason is that other sources of capital — namely, large banks and the federal government — are also making investments in minority depository institutions and CDFIs. The recent influx of cash — largely the result of big financial commitments to Black banks that followed the murder of George Floyd — means that some historically undercapitalized institutions don't need capital right now. M&F Bank and Optus Bank are mentioned.