Lending & Capitalization
Building the economic capacity of Native communities.
Does your Native Financial Institution need Loan Capital?
Oweesta considers loan applications on a rolling basis. Application requirements include current and historical financial statements, portfolio reports, loan policies, current and historical financial statements, and a comprehensive business plan or comparable information.
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 interest-only payments
- Eligible for renewal
Native Fresh Food Fund Loans
This loan product is available to Native CDFIs for the purpose of providing healthy food financing within their local service areas. Loan sizes range from $50,000 to $250,000 with a fixed interest rate of 3%. Loan term is up to 10 years with the possibility of renewal. Loans are unsecured and based on the financial capacity of the NCDFI. Loan proceeds must be used to finance healthy food interventions in Native communities.
- $50,000-$250,000 loan size
- 3% interest rate
- Term up to 10 years
- Unsecured
- Quarterly interest only payments
- Restricted to lending for healthy foods
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
Native CDFI Capital Pool
Access to affordable capital has been an ongoing challenge for the Native CDFI industry. Over the past couple of years, First Nations Oweesta Corporation has been working diligently to address this challenge by developing a capital pool allowing us to leverage both our strength and the strength of the industry to harness larger amounts of capital. Through research and outreach across the Native CDFI industry, including working with a Steering Committee of Native CDFIs and interviews with funders, investors, experts, and key partners, we have developed a model for a unique Native CDFI Capital Pool. This pool is intended to leverage larger amounts of lending capital for Native CDFIs.
The pool is uniquely structured, relying on a membership-based model. Native CDFI members invest 5% of their overall loan request in the pool as a cash reserve. Members then receive up to $1,000,000 in capital. The capital pool offers members a choice of two financing products: (1) a low-interest loan or (2) a higher-interest loan with 10% grant combination. Loans carry a targeted 10-year term with an interest-only period (two years), then amortized over the remaining term of the loan.
Map of Current Native CDFIs
43
Current Loans Out
$9,803,000
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.
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