2026 CDFI Certification Guide for credit unions.

CDFI certification applications are open on a rolling basis.

Non-certified organizations may apply at any time through the CDFI Fund’s Awards Management Information System (AMIS). The CDFI Fund continues to use the revised certification framework introduced in 2023, with updated application guidance and materials published since then.

Organizations that were already certified as of December 7, 2023 were placed into a required reapplication process. Those awaiting a final determination can retain certified status while the application is under review, provided they continue to meet reporting and other certification obligations.

A credit union must satisfy all seven certification tests.

1. Legal entity. The applicant must exist as a legal entity at the time it applies.
2. Primary mission. Promoting community development must be a primary mission and supported by governing documentation and strategy.
3. Financing entity. The institution must engage in eligible financing activity.
4. Target Market. The institution must primarily serve one or more approved CDFI Target Market components.
5. Development Services. It must provide structured training, counseling or technical assistance in conjunction with its financing activity.
6. Accountability. Governance or advisory arrangements must demonstrate accountability to the proposed Target Market.
7. Non-government entity. It must not be a government entity or under government control, subject to the CDFI Fund’s rules.

The 60% test is central — and it is not a rounded number.

For the Financial Products test, the CDFI Fund states that at least 60% of both the number and dollar volume of qualifying arm’s-length, on-balance-sheet Financial Products must be directed to one or more eligible Target Markets. The Fund explicitly notes that 59.9% is not rounded to 60%.

Depository institutions can have other applicable methods and tests, including a Financial Services option based on unique depository account holders. The correct approach depends on the institution’s selected Target Market structure and certification strategy.

Normal customer service is not enough.

The Fund describes an eligible Development Service as structured training, counseling or technical assistance that promotes access to, or success with, the institution’s financial products and services. It should be offered regularly, have a defined curriculum or written goals, and produce a measurable step or learning outcome.

Routine application assistance, product explanation, marketing or ordinary origination support does not by itself meet that definition.

Credit unions have several ways to demonstrate accountability.

The revised framework allows accountability to be demonstrated through qualifying representation on the governing board, a combination of governing and advisory boards, or — for credit unions — an advisory-board approach supplemented by evidence that a sufficient proportion of members belong to the approved Target Market.

The precise percentages and evidence requirements depend on the selected option and Target Market components, so the current CDFI Fund guidance should be used when designing the board or advisory structure.

Certification creates an annual operating obligation.

Certified CDFIs must submit an Annual Certification and Data Collection Report (ACR) according to their reporting schedule to maintain certification. The certification framework also uses transaction-level data to demonstrate Target Market activity.

A sensible systems design therefore captures the required evidence as lending occurs rather than reconstructing it at year end.

The LOS should make compliance evidence easier to produce, not harder.

Assess the operating gaps before treating certification as a filing exercise.

The quickest useful first pass is to test whether the institution already has evidence for each of the seven certification foundations, then identify which gaps are governance, product, data or lending-process problems.