Supporting the CDFI Fund: Strengthening Main Street and Expanding Opportunity

At Express Credit Union, we do more than provide checking accounts and auto loans—we help people build financial security. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we ensure that hardworking individuals and families have access to banking services that help them improve their financial well-being.

For 30 years, the CDFI Fund has empowered institutions like Express Credit Union to bring capital to towns and neighborhoods that traditional financial institutions often overlook. This private-public partnership has leveraged at least $8 in private investment for every $1 in public funding, creating a powerful engine for economic growth.

In 2024 alone, Express Credit Union funded 393 loans as alternatives to high-cost payday loans. Of the 728 loans we granted, 75% went to individuals with lower incomes, providing the tools needed to establish credit, save for the future, and navigate financial challenges. Whether it’s covering an emergency expense or securing a fair loan to avoid debt traps, our lending programs help people gain financial stability.

Our impact is real. Many members have faced significant financial hardship, have rebuilt their lives with our support—refinancing high-cost loans, consolidating debt, and improving their credit. We have helped many others access banking services when no one else would help.

CDFIs are a pillar Main Street, ensuring that individuals and families have the financial tools to build a more secure future. We stand with the bipartisan Community Development Finance Caucus in urging continued investment in the CDFI Fund. This funding is not charity—it’s a strategic investment in economic mobility, strong local economies, and a better future for all.

The Express CU Community Advisory Board at our Q4 meeting in 2024. Advisory board members represent our community through lived experience and through the work they do day to day.