City First Bank

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More Than a Bank: How City First is Building Community Resilience

At City First, we believe that banking is one of the most powerful engines for building economic strength and lasting community resilience. We are not just a commercial bank; we are a mission-driven financial institution founded on the principle that capital should flow where it can create the most profound and sustainable impact. Our singular focus is on the benefit and economic empowerment of customers and communities that have historically been overlooked by traditional finance.

Our Mission: Founded to Close Capital Gaps

Every decision we make is rooted in addressing a fundamental inequity: the lack of access to commercial finance and banking services in underinvested communities.

Our core mission is to champion:

Affordable Housing: Providing the necessary financing to develop and preserve safe, quality housing.
Nonprofit Growth: Fueling the critical organizations that deliver essential services and social programs.
Small Business Development: Empowering local entrepreneurs who are the backbone of neighborhood economic vitality.

We achieve this by providing strategic financing that actively closes capital gaps and fuels lasting positive change.

Mission-Locked by Design: Who We Are

Our commitment is not just a policy—it’s locked into our identity and legal structure. This unique foundation ensures our purpose remains safeguarded through every transaction and strategic decision.

The Certifications That Define Our Focus:

Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI): This essential certification ensures we focus our resources on serving low- and moderate-income communities. Our primary mandate is to address the specific financial needs of these underserved areas.
Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation (PBC): As both a B Corp and a PBC, we are legally committed to balancing people, planet, and profit. Our success is measured not just by our financial performance, but by the tangible social and environmental good we create.
Mission-Aligned Investors and Partners: We deliberately engage with stakeholders who prioritize impact alongside returns, creating an ecosystem that reinforces our dedication to community development.

What We Do: Financing That Fuels Tangible Impact

We see finance as a tool for lasting community development. Our lending strategy is intentionally focused on supporting mission-aligned businesses and nonprofits.

Prioritizing Impact Investment:

70%+ of Lending to Mission-Focused Initiatives: We are proud that the overwhelming majority of our lending portfolio directly advances economic and social opportunity in underinvested communities.
Commercial Financing: As a nationally chartered community development bank, we specialize in providing commercial financing specifically for affordable housing projects, community-serving nonprofits, and growth-oriented small businesses. We don’t wait for impact to happen; we fund it directly.

Why It Matters: The Power of Collective Commitment

Mission-driven banking thrives through the collective commitment of our entire ecosystem. Building economic strength in underinvested communities requires more than just capital; it takes people aligning their values with their financial choices.

We invite you to join the movement through:

Depositors: Aligning your money with your values by choosing a bank that channels capital into community development.
Investors: Prioritizing genuine social impact alongside sustainable financial returns.
Community Partners: Working alongside us to help identify and strategically meet local needs on the ground.
Employees and Leadership: Carrying out the mission daily with expertise and dedication.

Together, we can continue to use finance as a force for good—channeling capital where it’s needed most and creating lasting opportunity for all residents.