Building A Stronger City with Mission-Driven Banking
Building A Stronger City with Mission-Driven Banking
We’re About Purpose
Money is a tool - so why not use it to make a difference? At Central Bank of Kansas City, we wield that tool to rebuild communities. We believe that banking should be more than transactions, it should be a catalyst for positive change.
As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) since 1998, we are committed to revitalizing underserved neighborhoods in Kansas City by leveraging federal resources and private capital to help communities become self-sufficient and resilient.
What is a Community Development Financial Institution?
A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is a designation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded to specialized organizations. The CDFI Fund is part of this initiative, pairing federal grants with private sector capital to fund market-driven solutions to community-based issues.
This initiative helps create economic opportunities and boost community development in distressed areas. Typically, a CDFI works within the communities it serves to help inject new sources of capital that would normally lack access to investment.
Community Development Financial Institutions play a crucial role in generating economic growth and opportunity by offering affordable lending options, financial education, and investments that might not be available through traditional banks.
We Believe in Kansas City
Since our founding in 1951, and especially after our CDFI certification in 1998, Central Bank of Kansas City has been dedicated to serving the historic Northeast area. Our mission is to create vibrant communities where residents have access to essential services, employment opportunities, and quality housing.
Use Your Power for Good
We personalize our financial solutions to fit your goals, not the other way around. This gives you a bigger say in how your funds are invested, and the kinds of impact they have.
Champions of Possibility
We’re proud to be the only CDFI bank headquartered in Kansas City, and one of a very few regionally. For us, it’s more than just giving back — it’s about believing in Kansas City. As a CDFI, we have the power to create real, measurable change with loans for healthcare projects, affordable housing and healthy food alternatives.
Here’s how it works:
Community-Centric Approach: You can make decisions guided by the needs of the local community, confidently choosing services and products that support the good you want to create.
Flexible Financing Options: You can choose from customized loan products with flexible terms that directly and positively impact businesses and non-profits in areas of need.
Financial Education: As our partner, you support financial literacy programs that educate individuals and businesses on effective financial management. These programs change lives and outlooks with guidance normally not available in low-income neighborhoods.
Personalized Service: You’re not just a customer to us. Our team is dedicated to building a relationship with you, providing personalized guidance to achieve your financial goals and drive positive change in Kansas City.
Community Development Loans
Our lending focuses on supporting underserved communities with vital services, including early childhood education, health care access, and affordable healthy food alternatives.
Business Banking Overview
Business Banking Overview
New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)
Since 2007, we've been awarded multiple allocations of NMTC, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in community investment. These credits stimulate economic growth by attracting private-sector capital investments into highly distressed areas. Notable projects include the expansion of Operation Breakthrough and the construction of a new Dillons location in Lawrence, KS.
Explore New Markets Tax Credits
Explore New Markets Tax Credits
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
We support the development of affordable housing, ensuring that safe and affordable homes are available to low- and moderate-income families, contributing to neighborhood stability and growth.
Explore Affordable Housing Loans
Explore Affordable Housing Loans
We’re About People
We also serve our communities at a deeply personal level through our Community Outreach program. From reading each week to 2nd graders at area grade schools, to talking to students about saving, to volunteering at local non-profits — each of us at Central Bank of Kansas City is invested in caring for our community.
Got Questions? We Have Answers.
What services does Central Bank of Kansas City offer as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)?
We offer a range of services, including personal and business banking, commercial loans, and specialized financing programs like New Markets Tax Credits and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to support community development.
How does Central Bank of Kansas City support local businesses?
We provide loans and financial services tailored to the needs of local businesses to help them grow and succeed.
What areas does Central Bank of Kansas City serve?
While we serve the broader Kansas City metropolitan area, our primary focus is on underserved neighborhoods, particularly in the historic Northeast area. In addition, the bank’s CDFI trade area extends to the three-state region of Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. We allocate New Markets Tax Credits in these three states and even further in the Midwest for our affordable housing financing.
How can I get involved or support the bank's community initiatives?
You support our mission by simply choosing to bank with us. We also invite you to follow us on social media to learn more about our mission-driven bank.
Why does financial literacy matter?
A big part of our outreach is dedicated to financial literacy because we know how important it is to be financially savvy in today’s world. Sadly, research shows that financial illiteracy affects about 66% of Americans, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Without solid financial knowledge, people are more likely to fall into debt, damage their credit, or even face bankruptcy or foreclosure — and these challenges don't just affect individuals, they impact our entire community, including small businesses.
That’s why we’ve always been committed to providing financial education. We offer financial literacy programs that reach low- to moderate-income individuals of all ages, from preschoolers to seniors. Many local organizations and schools have benefited from these programs, and we’re proud to continue making a positive difference in our community.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Be part of a banking experience that prioritizes community growth and empowerment. Because when mission matters, it matters where you put your money.