Community Development

Underserved communities are brimming with potential. With the right support and investment, they can be transformed into thriving, vibrant neighborhoods, full of opportunity. Imagine places where jobs are abundant, services are accessible, and community spaces bring people together. This vision is within reach — and we’re fully committed to making it a reality.

Through our investments, we’re helping more minority- and women-owned businesses get the start they need to grow and succeed. By providing these entrepreneurs with the tools and resources to flourish, we’re helping to ignite economic growth that benefits their entire communities.

When people have safe, affordable homes, steady employment, and access to healthcare and vital services, they can truly thrive. They can dream bigger and build a future grounded in stability. That’s why we form deep partnerships with organizations that believe in this potential as much as we do. Because when we come together, there’s no limit to what’s possible.

At Central Bank of Kansas City, we are resourceful and creative about leveraging deposits to support the growth of our communities. We unlock the potential of distressed areas and food deserts through strategic investments, and partnerships with like-minded organizations. Our goal is to revitalize these communities with better jobs, services, and welcoming communal spaces.

Our loans empower minority- and women-owned businesses to start and grow. With access to funds for equipment and expansion, these entrepreneurs can build a better future where they live.

As a CDFI, many of our commercial loans are written to uplift distressed areas of Kansas City through programs like New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), or Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). Our community development partners include organizations like Operation Breakthrough, DEED Foundation, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Swope Health, and Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. 

Central Bank has been awarded thirteen allocations of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) from the Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) Fund since 2007. NMTCs stimulate economic growth and create jobs by attracting private-sector capital investments into highly distressed areas. There are two important principles behind NMTCs. First, there are good business opportunities in distressed communities and these communities constitute a new market opportunity for the private sector. Secondly, a modest federal subsidy can provide the "nudge" needed to persuade the private sector to invest in these markets.  To view a few of our projects, please visit our NMTC page.