The full explanation
It can be a community development bank or credit union, or a loan fund that is not a bank. The law requires that it not be a government agency, that it be accountable to the community it serves and that it offer services such as financial and credit counseling along with its loans. The Treasury Department's CDFI Fund certifies them.
An example
Because his credit history is short, Ramón asks at a CDFI in his city. Besides explaining his loan options, they offer him credit counseling before he applies for a mortgage.
In numbers: CDFI
Certified community development financial institutions (CDFIs): how many each state has, by the state of their main office, from the CDFI Fund.
- National total
- 1,279 CDFIs
| State | Figure |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 99 CDFIs |
| Pennsylvania | 31 CDFIs |
| Arizona | 17 CDFIs |
| Montana | 9 CDFIs |
| Wyoming | 1 CDFI |
If you look for "CDFI", Mississippi has 99 CDFIs; Wyoming, 1 CDFI; the whole country, 1,279 CDFIs.
Sources: Certified CDFI list (CDFI Fund, Treasury) (As of September 17, 2026)
You will see it in…
- First-time homebuyer loan programs in your area
- The Treasury Department's list of certified CDFIs
- Credit union and community bank websites
