Ethex is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to raise investment capital for businesses that deliver a positive benefit to society. Continue reading
News
Put your money on the high street
Our high streets don’t look like they once did. They’re now full of bookmakers, pawn shops and payday lenders. Continue reading
Banking the unbankable
More and more firms are slipping into the category of ‘the unbankable’. But there is light – and money – at the end of the tunnel for these businesses. Continue reading
My Home Finance wins Responsible Lender of the Year
Congratulations to CDFA member My Home Finance which won Responsible Lender of the Year at the recent Credit Today Awards. Continue reading
Time to get ruthless?
Banks lend to the most profitable customers. CDFIs lend to customers that are seen as less-profitable, more-risky. They lend smaller amounts, they build relationships with customers and, in most cases, also provide support and advice. This could be giving money management advice to a customer, or helping a social enterprise with its business plan. It is these value added services that are a core part of the CDFI’s social mission, and a core reason why they are effective at helping enterprises and families.
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Ethical lending on the rise as bank lending falls
New research from the CDFA shows that demand for CDFI loans has doubled in the last two years and has now hit almost £1 billion. Continue reading
Families could save £2.1billion with ethical lenders
The seven million people currently using payday and doorstep lenders could save £2.1billion if they used ethical alternatives, according to new research released today. Community development finance institutions (CDFIs) are non-profit lenders that operate across the UK. Last year demand for their services more than doubled.
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Demand for non-bank business loans increases
Non-bank community lenders saw an increase in demand from businesses of 36% in the first quarter of 2013, according to the Community Finance Monitor survey. This bucks the trend reported in today’s Bank of England Trends in Lending report, which says demand for bank credit remained weak in quarter one, and that demand from small businesses fell. Continue reading
Community lenders best placed to deliver £300m boost for SMEs
Vince Cable’s announcement that an additional £300m will be made available to SMEs through the business bank is a welcome and much needed step forward. To ensure that this money quickly gets to where it is needed, community development finance institutions (CDFIs) are the obvious vehicle to make it happen.
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Regional banks needed to restore trust and boost lending – says Ed Miliband
Labour would seek to establish a network of regional banks if elected, to help small business get access to finance, Ed Miliband has said. Continue reading