Self-Help’s Neil Goslin, Director of Development, kicks off this year’s Community Development Banking Seminar.

What do you get when you cross a financial institution with a passion for building stronger communities?

You get a community development banker. And Self-Help had the honor of hosting more than two dozen of them this week as community development professionals from all over the country attended our Community Development Banking Seminar. 

This long-running program, a two-day gathering in Durham, is a rare opportunity for community bankers, credit unions and nonprofits of various sizes to collaborate, compare notes and share best practices for expanding financial opportunities in their respective communities.

Vicky Garcia, senior vice president of strategy and risk management at the Latino Community Credit Union, was among the guest speakers. LCCU has grown by 93% in the past five years, serving predominately low-income members.

The topics covered in the seminar ranged from practical issues, like achieving scale and fundraising, to mission-focused goals, such as increasing support to vulnerable communities and serving immigrants.

The agenda included time for a walking tour of historic downtown Durham, and participants also had an opportunity to make one-on-one appointments with Self-Help staff, from specialty loan officers to team leaders and executives.