CDFI/CRA

CDFI: In September 2010, as a result of our commitment to our community, the Bank received national recognition and certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the United States Treasury Department’s (UST) CDFI Fund. CDFIs share a common goal of providing much needed credit and financial services to people and low-income communities that typically are not served by traditional financial institutions. This certification affords us access to programs that include federal and private sector capital in the form of grants, equity investments and loans.

As South Carolina’s largest certified CDFI bank, we are determined to contribute to our local community. We are 100% dedicated to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream. By financing community businesses- including small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing- we create job growth and retention in hard-to serve markets.

Our CDFI status allows us to offer tailored resources and innovative programs that invest federal dollars along with our own capital to support economically disadvantaged communities. We pride ourselves on providing social returns for our markets through products that feature flexible underwriting criteria, low interest rates and flexible terms. They are designed to meet the needs of the borrowers while balancing safety/soundness and other bank regulatory requirements. We make exceptions to policy when borrower circumstances dictate innovate approaches to meeting their needs.