LANCASTER, Pa.- Community First Fund is now known as Finanta.
Community First, a community development financial institution (CDFI) and federally chartered credit union, with an operations center in Lancaster, also has offices in Reading and Allentown.
A CDFI provides credit and financial services to underserved markets and populations. Susquehanna Valley Community Development Loan Fund was founded in the 1990s in Lancaster and rebranded as Community First Fund in 1996.
In a news release announcing the latest change, Community First said, “this transformation marks a pivotal moment for the organization, which serves immigrants, People of Color, women and those living in low-income communities in the greater Philadelphia area, eastern and southern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.”
Finanta is the name of a CDFI that has served the Philadelphia region for more than 30 years and merged with Community First Fund in 2020.
“The name change to Finanta is a declaration of who we are and what we stand for,” said Finanta President and CEO Daniel Betancourt, in the news release. “We are building on a foundation of economic inclusion and community partnership, bringing forward a name that strongly aligns with our mission and the diverse communities we serve.”
Community First said all staff, product offerings and services, and regions of service will remain unchanged.
The company also said that Finanta is a more consumer-friendly name that will help accelerate the growth of Finanta Credit Union, with new branches planned for Philadelphia and Reading.