NMSBIC Increases Funds for Clearinghouse CDFI

The New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation voted at its August 2026 board meeting to increase funding for Clearinghouse CDFI. The maximum loan amount increased by $10 million, from $30 million to $40 million.

Clearinghouse CDFI is a direct lender that provides innovative and affordable financing for small businesses, nonprofits, affordable housing, community facilities, and commercial real estate. Loan types include construction, acquisition, renovation, expansion, and refinance. Established in 1996 to serve low-income and disadvantaged communities in Southern California, Clearinghouse CDFI has expanded its service area to address unmet credit needs throughout the U.S., focusing on CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, and Indian Country.  It has $880 million in assets and $166 million in equity. 

NMSBIC’s relationship with Clearinghouse CDFI began with $5 million a few years ago and has grown quickly. Clearinghouse CDFI currently has $26 million in loans outstanding with NMSBIC. All are mortgage loans focused on low-income communities. One of CCDFI’s criteria is to make loans that banks generally are not interested in. In fact, a large source of its loans comes from borrowers turned down by banks. While Clearinghouse CDFI is a national lender, its primary region is the Southwest, with New Mexico being prominent among the various states. 

NMSBIC’s loan is secured by the loans that Clearinghouse CDFI makes to its borrowers. If one of those loans should go amiss, Clearinghouse CDFI still owes NMSBIC the full loan amount. This is how Clearinghouse CDFI works with all of its lenders, taking risk off of its lenders and other related parties. Over its history, Clearinghouse CDFI’s charge-off rates have been as good or better than conventional banks, and it has been profitable for the past 25 consecutive years.

Learn more about the Clearinghouse CDFI loan program on the Finance New Mexico project website. Read the full text of the NMSBIC August 2026 meeting minutes.