MBN USA

June 09, 2021

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

TD Bank creates $100 million equity fund to support minority-owned businesses

$25 million to focus on Black- and Latinx-owned businesses, hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank® (AMCB), has established a $100 million equity fund in support of minority-owned small businesses, demonstrating its continued commitment to combat racial inequities and provide opportunity in underserved communities. TD Bank's equity fund will enable Specialized Small Business Investment Companies (SSBICs) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to provide small business loans and technical assistance, ensuring these businesses have the resources they need to scale and adapt long term.

Most of the capital – $75 million – will be funded through an SSBIC initiative, to be launched later this year. SSBICs provide financial assistance to disadvantaged businesses that are minority-owned, women-owned or are in areas of need. The other $25 million will be specifically earmarked for Black- and Latinx-owned small businesses, funded through CDFIs, which are notably skilled in helping businesses in communities of color secure financing.

"The pandemic has highlighted the depth of disparities that exist in communities of color, especially as it relates to small businesses, which serve as the backbone of our economy," said Greg Braca, president and CEO, TD Bank, AMCB. "The equity fund will ultimately infuse capital and help stabilize these small businesses. But it's also about contributing to job creation, stimulating economic development, revitalizing these vibrant communities and, just as important, breaking the cycle of disinvestment which systemically prevents communities of color from thriving. Small businesses are the heart of our communities – especially communities of color – and it's up to us to help them succeed."

The equity fund stems from a larger commitment made by TD Bank Group last year to advance racial equity for its colleagues, customers and communities. As part of that commitment, TD Bank pledged to establish ways to better support minority-owned businesses. Many of these businesses, particularly Black- and Latinx-owned, were already experiencing financial fragility due to underlying systemic challenges faced by underrepresented groups, a situation that was exacerbated during the pandemic.

"We hope that our investment in these SSBICs and CDFIs serves as a means of making access to capital more equitable for minority small-business owners. But our support doesn't end there," said Michael Innis-Thompson, head of community lending and development at TD Bank. "TD has always helped sustain small-business owners. For instance, we've long supported CDFIs through philanthropic grants and access to capital for loans, providing them with the liquidity to offer low-interest, microloans to businesses that may not have qualified for traditional lending due to barriers commonly faced, especially by Black and Latinx small-business owners. Additionally, TD will continue its practice of referring customers to a CDFI when we can't underwrite a loan, because at the end of the day, we want these vital businesses to succeed – it's what differentiates us as a purpose-driven bank."

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9.5 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,220 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US and www.twitter.com/TDNews_US.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD." To learn more, visit www.td.com/us.