Rapid growth for a proven new model

Results overview

Scale Link has achieved impressive results since its launch in December 2020. Scale Link has purchased 3,500 loans from CDFIs, providing $54.9 million of capital back to CDFI partners. Scale Link has sold $36.8 million to bank partners, and donated $6 million of new revenue back to CDFI partners, benefiting underrepresented populations and promoting financial equity and inclusion.

Scale Link's secondary market for CDFI loans has proven to be a sustainable, independent source of funding for CDFIs, generating enough revenue to cover Scale Link's operating costs. Scale Link has demonstrated its ability to create a centralized platform that standardizes transactions and aggregates loans across markets, providing a consistent year-round market for CDFIs.

Proven impact

Between launch in December 2020 and January 2024, Scale Link’s results include the following.


Perhaps most importantly, revenue from the secondary market is now covering Scale Link’s base operating costs – which proves its worth as a sustainable, independent source of funding for CDFIs.

provided $54 million in capital to CDFI partners

sold $36.7 million to bank partners

donated $6 million back to CDFI partners

purchased 3,500 loans

Testimonials

  • “We are proud to work with [Scale Link]. The contributions we make improve our CRA results and we know it will make an impact in our community.”

    -Minnesota Bank & Trust

  • "As we have stepped forward to support women, immigrants, low-income entrepreneurs and people of color..., we need diverse and innovative funds like the [Scale Link] to support our liquidity in order to keep capital flowing to Main Street businesses.”

    — Luz Urretia, CEO of Accion Opportunity Fund

  • “Our quarterly transactions with [Scale Link] help us to meet CRA goals while providing CDFI microlenders with much-needed capital.”

    -Byline Bank

  • “Our mission to provide opportunity for minority and underserved business owners is more important than ever. We are proud to partner with [Scale Link] to strengthen our capacity and further our support for small businesses across our thirteen-state footprint.”

    — Janie Barrera, President & CEO of Liftfund

  • [Scale Link] was incredibly responsive and helpful throughout the loan purchase process. We are pleased to have a new way to help more CDFIs and small businesses in our community.”

    -First Eagle Bank

  • “The [Scale Link] is truly innovative and could be transformational for microlenders nationwide. It’s this very type of forward thinking and doing that will allow mission lenders to thrive.”

    — Robert F. Boyle, Founder & CEO of Justine Peterson

  • “The [Scale Link] is an example of how we can collectively come together to re-imagine a new approach for our future and in so doing, address the triple challenges of liquidity, credit risk and sustainability during and after the pandemic.”

    -Paul Quintero, CEO of Ascendus

  • "Through creative partnerships like this, we can provide capital and coaching to even more underserved small business owners throughout the Chicagoland area.”

    -Brad McConnell, Allies for Community Business

  • "Teaming up with [Scale Link] gave us (DreamSpring) the ability to leverage some of our existing portfolio and ultimately recirculate that capital to help more underserved borrowers realize their dreams.

    -Anne Haines, President/CEO of DreamSpring

  • “Scale Link was incredibly helpful to us in meeting our CRA lending and investment goals. They provide an innovative and impactful way of serving CDFIs and underserved small businesses in our community.”

    -Coastal States Bank

  • "This initial collaboration with Scale Link was the perfect opportunity to accelerate CRA impact in a new assessment area and get comfortable with the process. The Scale Link team was attentive and accommodating. We look forward to future transactions in other assessment areas to generate more community impact."

    First Bank

Featured case studies


Byline Bank

Byline Bank sought to find a reliable way to plan their CRA impact and provide continued support for LMI entrepreneurs and businesses owners in their assessment areas.


First Eagle Bank

Chicago area community bank searched for 3 microloans to help direct new capital to CDFIs and small businesses in their community.


Minnesota Bank & Trust

Minnesota Bank & Trust sought to assist WomenVenture, a trusted community partner, and help Scale Link increase the flow of capital to LMI entrepreneurs and business owners.


Coastal States Bank

Coastal States Bank and Scale Link join forces to empower entrepreneurs and drive positive change to small businesses.


Leaders Bank

Chicago area community bank searched for 5 microloans to help small businesses in the Bank’s service area


First Bank

In response to the expansion of their assessment area into Florida, First Bank strategically partnered with Scale Link to extend their reach to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Community impact

CDFI

Working Solutions

BUSINESS

El Tiny Café, Berkeley, CA

Working Solutions has partnered with Scale Link since 2020. To date, Scale Link has provided $3.4M of capital and $390,000 of unrestricted funds to help Working Solutions support more borrowers like El Tiny Café.

LiftFund

BUSINESS

Kosmo Nail & Hair Salon, Corpus Christi, TX

LiftFund has partnered with Scale Link since 2020. To date, Scale Link has provided $3.4M of loan capital and $400,000 of unrestricted funds to help LiftFund support more borrowers like Kosmo Nail & Hair Salon.

CDFI

Justine Petersen

BUSINESS

EyeSeeMe, University City, MO

Justine Petersen has partnered with Scale Link since 2020. To date, Scale Link has provided $3.6M of capital and $35,000 of unrestricted funds to help Justine Petersen support more borrowers like EyeSeeMe. 

CDFI