Marva Williams, Principal Investigator
Sarah Duda and Tom Feltner, Co-Authors

This report details the partnership process and lessons learned from a two-year technical assistance program designed to help community organizations partner with mainstream credit unions with the goal of enrolling new lower-income members or expanding an existing partnership. The case studies describing these partnerships identify four strategic areas through which partnerships can be strengthened and the common barriers to developing a successful partnership can be overcome.

The purpose of this guide is to help community organizations enable their members to join a mainstream credit union and begin building modest assets. Many credit unions offer financial products and services tailored to the needs of low-income people, but mainstream credit unions have not historically reached this population. Partnering with community organizations expands a credit union's membership while giving community organizations the tools to help their members build assets.

Describes the regulatory and other industry trends that impact the penetration of lower-income markets by credit unions. The report recommends that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) be amended to include credit unions.

Describes historical impact of secondary capital investments on low-income credit unions. Includes detailed case studies of four credit unions that are recipients of secondary capital investments. Offers policy recommendations related to the effectiveness of this investment tool.

Katy Jacob, Malcolm Bush, and Daniel Immergluck

This report examines the reality of credit unions' claim that they honor the mission stated in the Federal Credit Union Act to meet the savings and credit needs of "persons of modest means." The report also discusses why it is so important that credit unions fulfill this statutory responsibility and how they might do so more effectively in the future.

Demonstrates how low-income credit unions (LICUs) have become a growing force in the world of financial institutions, using data collected from the National Credit Union Administration for the years 1990-1996. Highlights LICUs' successful financial management and crucial role in community reinvestment while stressing the need for targeted resources for these institutions.

(A Project by the Credit Union Foundation, Inc.) Documentation of the Vermont Development Credit Union's Affordable Mortgage Lending Program, a unique program which combines home purchase counseling with non-mortgage loan products to assist potential homebuyers become ready for a mortgage. The program can serve as a model for other lenders interested in affordable homeownership for lower-income families.