Center for Community Self Help & Self-Help Credit Unions

Founded in 1980 the Center for Community Self Help focuses on financial services and advocacy for those left out of the economic mainstream, especially women and underserved minority and rural communities.

The Center operates three finance affiliates: Self-Help Credit Union, Self-Help Federal Credit Union and Self-Help Ventures Fund. The primary geographic areas served are North Carolina, California and the Washington, DC area. Loans to micro-businesses and non-profits are available only in North Carolina.

Funding for the Center's microfinance initiatives is derived from private investors, grants and deposits.

The Center for Community Self Help reports that from 1980 through 2009, its two credit unions made:

• $419 Million in commercial loans to 3,201 entrepreneurs, reflected in 24,142 jobs created/maintained
• $318 Million in home loans to 4,293 homeowners
• $27 Million in loans to 4,646 consumers

Additionally, the Center noted in a year-end 2009 community impact report that in 30 years it has:

• Collected $304 Million in savings deposits
• Invested $107 Million in real estate development resulting in 132 homes and 21 commercial property development projects
• Made $4.57 Billion in second mortgage loans to 50,869 homeowners

50 million American households are considered "unbanked" - they have no relationships with federally insured financial institutions