Community First Fund

Finanta (formerly Community First Fund) is a community development financial institution headquartered in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, founded in 1992. ^[1]

Finanta is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit loan fund and federally chartered credit union. Formerly known as Community First Fund, Finanta provides loans, consumer financial services, and educational resources to support individuals, families, and small businesses—particularly those in low-income and underbanked communities. The organization operates across 22 counties in Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, with offices in cities including Philadelphia, Lancaster, Reading, Harrisburg, Allentown and York.

History

Finanta was originally founded as Community First Fund in 1992 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a mission to serve entrepreneurs and communities historically excluded from traditional financial systems. In 2020, Community First Fund merged with FINANTA (Financing and Technical Assistance), a Philadelphia-based CDFI with a strong reputation for working with local entrepreneurs.

In November 2024, the organization officially rebranded as Finanta.

Services

Finanta delivers loan products ranging in size from approximately $1,200 to $2,000,000+, depending on the purpose and qualifications of the applicants.

• Small Business Loans & Microloans, SBA 7(a) loans, and term loans tailored for startups and existing businesses.
• Group Lending / Character-based Loan Program (based loosely off Peer-to Peer lending programs found in Latin American and Caribbean Countries)
• Commercial Real Estate Loans - Financing for community facilities, nonprofit developers, and commercial projects.
• Affordable Housing Development Loans
• Community Development Loans
• Residential Mortgage Loans

Finanta Credit Union

Provides access to consumer checking and savings accounts, credit-builder loans, personal and auto loans, personal lines of credit, and financial coaching.

Community Programs and Initiatives

• New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program : Finanta is an active allocator of New Market Tax Credits funding through a program directed by the US Treasury’s CDFI Fund. The NMTC program helps economically distressed communities attract private investment capital, which funds large-scale community development projects, including medical centers, childcare facilities, community centers, charter schools, manufacturing facilities and nonprofit headquarters.
• Blueprint Communities : Finanta is a key implementation partner in the Blueprint Communities initiative, a place-based revitalization program designed to strengthen local leadership and promote resident-driven community development.
• City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) : Finanta plays a critical role in supporting economic development within Pennsylvania's designated CRIZ zones. The CRIZ program, established by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, enables certain local tax revenues to be reinvested in public infrastructure and development projects within targeted zones. Finanta provides financing, strategic support, and underwriting expertise to help leverage CRIZ dollars alongside private and public funding, accelerating job creation, business expansion, and community revitalization.
• Philly Builds Credit : Finanta is a founding partner and co-lead of this citywide initiative aimed at improving credit access and financial visibility in Philadelphia.

References

1. http://blog.pennlive.com/business/2008/08/community_first_fund_semifinal.html, Business with the Patriot - News, Community First Fund semifinalist in national competition, Friday, August 08, 2008, DAN MILLER, Retrieved January 21, 2011.

External links

• Finanta website
• Finanta Credit Union Website