Community Development Financial Institution

In 2020, AEA Federal Credit Union received certification by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). CDFIs are mission-driven financial institutions that are dedicated to providing financial services to meet the needs of economically disadvantaged individuals in underserved communities.

CDFIs are certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund – known as the CDFI Fund. In order to become a certified CDFI, the financial institution must: have a primary mission of promoting community development; provide financial products and services; serve one or more defined low-income target markets; maintain accountability to the community it serves; and be a legal non-governmental entity.

“We are very honored to have been selected for CDFI certification. As a locally owned and operated financial institution, this recognition illustrates our dedication to supporting the needs of our members and the communities we serve.” - Adele Sandberg, AEA President and CEO

CDFI's are able to apply for the CDFI’s annual grant, tax credit, and bond programs. Through these competitively awarded benefits and other CDFI programs, AEA will be able to build its organizational capacity to better serve lower-income individuals and families in Yuma and La Paz counties. Since its inception, the CDFI Fund has awarded more than $2.9 billion to community development organizations and allocated $54 billion in New Markets Tax Credits.