(CDFI) Community Development Financial Institutions
CDFIs can be banks, credit unions, loan funds, microloan funds, or venture capital providers. CDFIs are helping families finance their first homes, supporting community residents starting businesses, and investing in local health centers, schools, or community centers. CDFIs strive to foster economic opportunity and revitalize neighborhoods.
O Bee is an Inclusiv Credit Union
Inclusiv is the leading network of credit unions with a primary mission of promoting community development and financial inclusion. They are a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
Principles of an Inclusiv Credit Union
We are dedicated to closing the gaps and removing barriers in financial opportunities for distressed and underserved communities by providing capital, making connections and building capacity, developing innovative products and services for CDCUs, and working to transform local progress into lasting change at the national level.
Principle #1: High-Quality Financial Services for All
Expanding access to financially vulnerable or formerly excluded communities is the core of an Inclusiv credit union. We work with our credit union network to reduce barriers and increase awareness and access to credit union services for underserved populations. Being Inclusiv, is an institutional commitment from the Board to management to front-line staff creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Credit unions can develop an inclusiv approach in their marketing messages and outreach channels, facilitating remote account opening processes, review loan underwriting criteria and expanding financial counseling and coaching.
Principle #2: Place the Member First
As financial cooperatives, our institutional interests align with the success and well-being of our members. Predatory lenders undermine the financial and economic security of community development credit union members, borrowers and communities. Unlike these predators, an Inclusiv credit union designs its products and services and operations around the goal of member success.
Principle #3: Meet People Where They Are
An Inclusiv credit union meets people where they are in their financial lives and helps them find the pathways to move forward. We do not see financial inclusion as a single product or intervention. It is a commitment to working with your member to find the right tools for where they are now and where they hope to move in their financial lives.
