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Where finance meets impact.

Several years ago, Marcus1 walked into a motorcycle dealership with hope in his heart but uncertainty in his financial past. Just over a year earlier, he had filed for bankruptcy—a difficult decision that left him with a credit score of 529 and limited options for rebuilding his financial life. What he didn’t know was that…

Finding Purpose in Financial Services Nine years ago, Asta Cummings thought she’d be working in film. After high school, she’d spent time with Reel Works, even making a short movie about her experiences growing up. But when she saw Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union at a job fair, something shifted. “I was immediately drawn to…

What is a CDFI? Corporate treasurers are tasked with safeguarding liquidity, preserving capital, and managing risk in a rapidly shifting financial landscape. While large national institutions remain the default for many, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) offer an alternative that combines federally insured safety with diversification benefits. Certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury,…

A single mother in rural Mississippi can’t get to her new job because there’s no reliable transportation. A corner store owner in Detroit wants to accept credit cards and offer fresh produce but can’t afford the equipment upgrades and refrigeration systems. A community health center in Appalachia can’t serve patients effectively because their building needs…

At CNote, we believe your money should work toward more than just financial returns—it should help build stronger communities. That’s the idea behind our fixed income products, which allow clients to earn returns while supporting opportunities like small business growth, affordable housing, and disaster recovery. The Flagship Fund, with a history of no losses, is…

In Petersburg, Virginia, homeownership dreams feel within reach—even for those who’ve been told “no” countless times before. At Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union (PAFCU), being a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) means more than just offering loans. It means creating pathways to prosperity for underserved communities through innovative programs that traditional banks simply won’t provide.…

When companies consider cash management, their primary focus is typically on safety, liquidity, and yield. But cash can do more than sit in a low-yield account or a money market fund. By placing deposits with community-focused banks and credit unions, companies can keep their money safe while also supporting critical needs like affordable housing. It’s…

By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation When CNote was founded, our founders could have chosen the easier path by building a simple platform that connects investors with community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Instead, they recognized that truly addressing systematic challenges in how capital flows to underserved communities required something more ambitious: building solutions that…

When most companies think about where to keep their cash, the usual suspects come to mind: large national banks or short-term money market funds. But there’s another option that more organizations are beginning to explore: placing deposits with Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) banks and credit unions. These mission-driven institutions don’t just safeguard deposits. They…

America is losing affordable housing at an alarming rate. Every day, naturally occurring affordable housing—existing properties with below-market rents—disappears as gentrification drives up property values and displaces long-time residents. In Northeast Los Angeles, this crisis is playing out in real time, with rising rents pushing out families who built their lives in communities they can…