First Nations Community Financial

What First Nations Community Financial does

First Nations Community Financial (FNCF) is a state-chartered, 501(c)(3) Native Community Development Financial Institution headquartered in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Founded in 2011 and operating independently since May 2012 after spinning off from the Ho-Chunk Housing and Community Development Agency, FNCF is one of more than 70 Native CDFIs in the United States and uniquely positions itself as the only Native CDFI serving multiple Wisconsin Native American communities. Its primary beneficiary segments are Ho-Chunk Nation tribal members, Ho-Chunk Nation employees, Native American entrepreneurs across Wisconsin, and surrounding community members, with products targeted at respondents underserved by traditional banks.

FNCF's core offering is a portfolio of microloan products: the Hokinac Personal Loan ($1,250-$2,500), Family First Loan (up to $1,000, flat $100 fee), Fresh Start Loan for debt consolidation (up to $5,000), Emergency Loan (up to $1,000), Auto Loans (currently suspended), Wooruwi Business Loans ($3,000-$50,000 with up to 50% forgiveness upon technical assistance completion), and the Family Roots Home Loan (pilot exhausted). Ancillary services include HUD-approved housing counseling, one-on-one financial coaching, Indianpreneurship and Pathways Homebuyer Education classes, and the Financial Frenzy youth financial literacy program. Loan underwriting is handled manually by a small team of two loan officers, with applications processed through a third-party portal (Lenderfit, adopted July 2024) and appointment scheduling via Calendly.

The revenue model is a transaction-fee / interest-spread model on a small-dollar loan portfolio ($12.25M cumulative across 6,900 loans since July 2012), supplemented by HUD counseling fees and likely grant funding typical of CDFIs. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct loan officer relationships, tribal partner referrals, community events, and outreach sessions at Ho-Chunk Nation locations across Wisconsin. The company is governed by a board with multi-tribal representation and led by Executive Director Becky Albert-Breed.

Name

First Nations Community Financial

Legal name

First Nations Community Financial

Website

https://firstnationsfinancial.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Nations Community Financial is a Wisconsin-based, not-for-profit Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering microloans, debt consolidation, small business financing, and HUD-approved housing counseling to Ho-Chunk Nation tribal members and Native American entrepreneurs across Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Black River Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest and Fees: FNCF generates revenue through interest charged on various loan products including auto loans (6.5-10%), business loans (4%-7.5%), fresh start loans (12-18%), and personal loans (14.5-20.5%). Additional revenue comes from flat fees on certain products such as the Family First Loan ($100 fee) and Wooruwi Business Loan ($250 fee).
2. Financial Education Services: As a not-for-profit CDFI, FNCF provides financial education services including HUD-approved counseling, one-on-one credit counseling, financial skills workshops, and Indianpreneurship classes. These services support their mission and loan programs rather than serving as primary revenue generators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Nations Community Financial is a state-chartered not-for-profit Native CDFI that provides a diversified portfolio of small-dollar loans (personal, emergency, auto, debt consolidation, small business, and mortgage) to Ho-Chunk Nation tribal members, Ho-Chunk Nation employees, and other Native American communities in Wisconsin. Alongside lending, FNCF delivers HUD-approved housing counseling, one-on-one financial coaching, Indianpreneurship business classes, and the Pathways Homebuyer Education curriculum in support of its community development mission.

Product overview

First Nations Community Financial is a Native CDFI offering a portfolio of loan products and financial services. Core loan offerings include personal loans (Hokinac Personal, Family First, Emergency), debt consolidation (Fresh Start), vehicle financing (Auto Loans - currently suspended), small business lending (Wooruwi Business Loans with up to 50% forgiveness), and mortgage products (Family Roots Home Loan - funding exhausted). Financial services include one-on-one coaching, HUD-certified housing counseling, and educational programs including Indianpreneurship business classes, Pathways Homebuyer Education, and the annual Financial Frenzy youth financial literacy event. The organization partners with Ho-Chunk Nation and HHCDA to deliver products primarily to tribal members in Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family First Loan Small consumer loan of up to $1,000 with a 12-month payback period and a flat $100 fee rolled into the loan amount (no interest), designed to serve family needs year-round, build credit, and provide an alternative to predatory lending for Ho-Chunk tribal members and Ho-Chunk Nation employees.
• Hokinac Personal Loan Personal loan for short-term needs such as recreational vehicles, laptops, or vacations. Available to Ho-Chunk Tribal Members, Ho-Chunk Nation employees, and surrounding communities, with $2,500 maximum for returning clients and $1,250 for first-time borrowers, 18-24 month terms, and 14.5%-20.5% interest.
• Fresh Start Loan Debt consolidation loan up to $5,000 for paying off payday loans, collections, or judgments, with up to 36-month payback and 12%-18% interest rates, aimed at Ho-Chunk tribal members seeking to escape high-cost debt.
• Auto Loan Vehicle financing of up to $20,000 with 3-5 year payback and 6.5%-10% interest rates for Ho-Chunk Tribal Members and Ho-Chunk Nation employees; vehicle must be purchased from a dealership in Wisconsin. Program is currently temporarily suspended.
• Emergency Loan Emergency assistance loan of up to $1,000 for gas, electric, propane, or auto repairs for Ho-Chunk Tribal Members and Ho-Chunk Nation employees, with a $100 fee added to the loan, 12-month repayment, and per-capita pledged as collateral. Currently suspended.
• Family Roots Home Loan Mortgage loan for enrolled Ho-Chunk Nation tribal members with affordability-determined lending up to $250,000, 95% loan-to-value, 43% maximum debt-to-income, and 31% maximum housing ratio. Residence must be in Wisconsin. Pilot program of five loans is currently fully funded; HUD-certified courses are still offered.
• Wooruwi Business Loans Small business loan program for Native American entrepreneurs in Wisconsin at any business stage (start-up, development, growth, expansion), with lending amounts of $3,000-$50,000, terms of 12-60 months, 4%-7.5% interest, a $250 fee, up to 95% business collateral coverage, and up to 50% loan forgiveness upon completion of the technical assistance plan.
• Financial Coaching Services One-on-one and group coaching sessions on budgeting, saving strategies, credit building, and debt management, empowering Native community members with knowledge for financial control and independence.
• HUD-Approved Counseling Services HUD-certified housing counseling covering pre-purchase, post-purchase, foreclosure prevention, rental counseling, eviction prevention, and predatory lending prevention, delivered by certified counselors and scheduled via Calendly intake.
• Pathways Homebuyer Education Group and individual homebuyer-readiness curriculum covering readiness assessment, credit understanding, needs versus wants, application process, and homeowner responsibilities, required for Ho-Chunk Housing and Community Development Agency down payment assistance.
• Indianpreneurship Classes Small business planning course covering marketing, location, types of ownership, finances, and business identity. Completion is required before applicants can take out a small business loan with FNCF and serves as the entry point to the Wooruwi Business Loan.
• Financial Frenzy / Game of Life Youth Event Annual reality-based financial literacy game event held since 2010 for Ho-Chunk youth ages 12-18 and their parents, delivering hands-on money management education at multiple Wisconsin locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ clients assisted with developmental services in 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ho-Chunk NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2012FNCF operates in partnership with the Ho-Chunk Nation to provide financial products and services for tribal members and communities. The Ho-Chunk Nation provided a sizable small business loan portfolio upon FNCF's separation from HHCDA in 2012 and continues to support through a Memorandum of Understanding enabling mutual support between organizations.
• Ho-Chunk Housing and Community Development Agency (HHCDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2012FNCF was developed through HHCDA in 2006 before achieving independence in 2012. HHCDA continues to partner with FNCF on homeownership programs, down payment assistance, and the Pathways Home training curriculum. The Family Roots Home Loan program is offered in partnership with HHCDA.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFNCF employs HUD-certified counselors who provide approved housing counseling services including pre-purchase, post-purchase, foreclosure prevention, rental counseling, eviction prevention, and predatory lending prevention services.
• Oweesta CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOweesta is the only national Native CDFI Intermediary offering financial products and development services exclusively to Native CDFIs and Native communities. FNCF Board Member Fern Vivian Orie serves as Chief Programs Officer at Oweesta, creating a connection between the organizations.
• First Nations Development InstituteminorOthersPartners with FNCF to provide the Dr. Per Cap financial education content series, made possible by the First Nations Development Institute and FINRA Investor Education Foundation.
• Ho-Chunk Nation Department of HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for homeownership programs, down payment assistance policies, and existing mortgage assistance refinance programs for Ho-Chunk tribal members.
• Wisconsin Indian Business AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFNCF participates in Wisconsin Indian Business Alliance events and initiatives supporting Native business development across the state.
• Red Letter Grant and Cedar GrowthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership supporting the Women's Indigenous Start-Up Grant program offering $2,000 grants to Indigenous women in business in Wisconsin. FNCF promotes this grant opportunity to their community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FNCFinancial
• Xx.com/FNCFinancial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-nations-community-financial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Nations Community Financial