NCUA Awards $100,000 in Minority Depository Institutions Mentoring Grants

ALEXANDRIA, VA (December 14, 2021) — The National Credit Union Administration has awarded $100,000 in grants to four minority depository institution credit unions to support mentoring programs with larger institutions.

“Advancing economic equity and justice is a goal that fully aligns with the credit union system’s mission of meeting the credit and savings needs of members, especially those of modest means,” NCUA Chairman Todd M. Harper said. “Through these mentoring grants, we can support credit unions with both the minority depository institution and low-income designations to improve performance, products, and services. In turn, these credit unions will be better able to provide safe, fair, and affordable financial services to their members.”

Each grant is $25,000 and will help the MDI credit unions improve operations and services to members. The agency awarded grants to:

• Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, Richmond, Virginia, with Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Durham, North Carolina, serving as mentor;

• Israel Methcomm Federal Credit Union, Chicago, with Maternity B.V.M. Credit Union, Bourbannais, Illinois, serving as mentor;

• Park Manor Christian Church Credit Union, Chicago, with Maternity B.V.M. Credit Union serving as mentor; and

• Southeastern Arizona Federal Credit Union, Douglas, Arizona, with MariSoL Federal Credit Union, Phoenix, Arizona, serving as mentor.

The MDI mentoring grants program is funded through the NCUA’s Community Development Revolving Loan Fund allocation. The program helps small, low-income, minority depository credit unions establish mentoring relationships with larger, low-income-designated credit unions that provide guidance in serving low-income and underserved communities.

In addition to mentoring grants, the NCUA offers information and other forms of assistance to MDI credit unions through its Minority Depository Institutions Preservation Program.