Lending & Capitalization
Building the economic capacity of Native communities.
Does Your Native Financial Institution Need Loan Capital?
Oweesta offers loans to provide financing capital for Native CDFIs and other tribal or nonprofit loan funds. Borrowers must be Native-controlled and have a primary mission of serving Native communities. We do not offer loans directly to individuals or businesses.
Oweesta’s current single borrower limit is $1.5 million or 25% of the borrower’s total assets, whichever is smaller. Loan applications are accepted year-round and can be completed through Oweesta’s client portal. Please contact Emily Trump at emily@oweesta.org to begin the application process or get more information. In order to complete your application, you will need the following:
- Business plan and/or strategic plan, if available
- Most recent three years audited financial statements including the auditor’s letter to management
- Most recent interim financial statements
- Three years of financial and lending projections, if available
- Loan portfolio aging report(s) showing all delinquencies broken down by loan type and lending sector
- Lending policies and procedures (required)
- Financial management policies (required)
- Resumes or brief professional biographies of management and senior staff
- Resumes or brief professional biographies of board members
Organizations with less than $1 million in assets may submit unaudited financial statements. Loan pipeline estimates may be submitted in lieu of formal financial and lending projections. Organizations in operation for less than three years or who have yet to begin lending are encouraged to apply.
About Our Lending Products
Capital Loans
This is Oweesta’s “classic” loan product, used by most of our Native CDFI borrowers. Funds can be used to make any kind of loans in the borrower’s self-identified target market.
- $100,001 – $500,000 loan size
- 2-4% interest rate (most loans are 3-3.5%)
- Term up to 5 years
- Usually unsecured
- Quarterly or monthly interest-only payments for up to two years
Agriculture Loans
This loan product provides lending capital for loans to support the production, processing, marketing, and/or distribution of agricultural products, including food, fiber, forest products, and horticultural crops.
- $50,000 and up loan size
- Interest rate tied to Federal Funds Rate
- Term up to 10 years
- Quarterly or monthly payments, with up to two years interest-payments
First In Loans
This loan product is almost identical to a Capital Loan, except that it is smaller, has a shorter term, and carries a slightly higher interest rate. These are our riskier loans, made to smaller, newer, or struggling Native CDFIs.
- Up to $100,000 loan size
- 4-5% interest rate
- Term up to 3 years
- Usually unsecured
- Quarterly interest-only payments
- Eligible for renewal
Map of Current Native CDFIs
31
Current Loans Out
$13,870,000
Current Loan Portfolio
CONTACT US
First Nations Oweesta Corporation
2432 Main Street
Longmont, CO 80501
303.774.8838
info@oweesta.org
Oweesta is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
ABOUT OWEESTA
Oweesta is the only existing Native CDFI intermediary offering financial products and development services exclusively to Native CDFIs and Native communities. Specifically, Oweesta provides training, technical assistance, investments, research, and policy advocacy to help Native communities develop an integrated range of asset-building products and services, including financial education and financial products.
Asset-building tools stimulate reservation economies by providing tribal members the opportunity to acquire financial management skills and build and accumulate assets through small business creation, homeownership, education, and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Join our Newsletter
