Serving Small Businesses and Nonprofits

Financing for Business and Social Entrepreneurs

Finding a source of capital is a major challenge for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. The small businesses and entrepreneurs we serve typically don't come to us with high profit margins or valuable collateral, and that's okay. We work closely with our borrowers to make sure they have a solid business plan. If you're not quite ready today, we can offer free advice on a specific action plan to lay the groundwork for your venture.

Our small business owners and nonprofits come in all shapes and sizes, often with unconventional business models. Examples of our borrowers include cooperatives, solar and biofuel providers, green businesses, churches and social service organizations. We're proud that 40% of our business lending has been to woman-owned enterprises.

In all, we've provided more than 4,400 loans totaling $1.1 billion to businesses, nonprofits and community facilities providers, helping our borrowers maintain and create more than 42,000 jobs.

Supporting Patient-Centered Health Care

Dr. Kelly Senglar-Vitale is a physical therapist passionate about high-quality health care. A Self-Help loan allowed her to leave the corporate health-care world to open Manual Physical Therapy, Inc. in Wilson, NC. She insists on state-of-the-art equipment, evidence-based care, ongoing training for her staff and, most importantly, a patient-centered approach. In 2014 she expanded in Rocky Mount with her second loan from us.

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Dr. Kelly Senglar-Vitale, owner of Manual Physical Therapy, in her Wilson, NC clinic.