Working in an inner-city neighborhood, I saw that the issue of capital was critical, and that it was an issue that often was avoided. While civic organization and civic power are fundamental to social change, capital is also. I learned from bankers. I think bankers are underappreciated. But, they don't do what CDFIs do.
Banks look at historical performance.
This group of CDFI managers is often looking for a chance to do work that is more meaningful and more rewarding than traditional banking. Their technical knowledge, combined with the hard-won practical experience of the CDFI founders, gives CDFIs an organizational strength that is unequaled in conventional banking.