Lending Circles: the power of Community + Credit
Building Credit. Building Community. Since 2008, thousands of families have turned invisible trust into visible credit through Lending Circles. Their journeys begin with a simple promise and end with new doors unlocked.
Millions remain “credit invisible,” locked out of renting safe homes, financing cars, or launching businesses. Lending Circles formalizes the tandas and susus families already use, letting credit bureaus see what communities have always known: people keep their promises.
13
$13 M+ in zero‑interest loans circulated – 99 % repaid.
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10,000+ clients in nearly every U.S. state.
7900
7 ,900+ Lending Circles formed since launch.
130
130‑point average credit‑score jump.
13000000
$2.4 M+ saved in predatory fees and interest.
Matilde’s Story
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Joleen
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Hugo
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Growing the Circle Through Partnerships
From San Francisco’s Mission District to St Paul to Chicago, 100+ community organizations, funders, and agencies bring Lending Circles home to their neighbors.
California
- Casa Familiar
- Community Action Partnership of Orange County
- CROP Organization
- Eastmont Community Center
- Eden United Church of Christ (EUCC)
- Education and leadership Foundation
- ELACC (East LA Community Corporation)
- LIFT LA
- MAAC
- MAOF
- SF LGBT Community Center
- West Oakland Job resource Center (WOJRC)
Colorado
- NEWSED
Wyoming
- One22 Resource Center
Ohio
- Asian Services in Action (ASIA)
Illinois
- Center for Changing Lives (CCL)
- Greater Chatham Initiative
- The Resurrection Project
- Youth Job Center
Georgia
- Refugee Women’s Network
Minnesota
- Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)
- Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
Michigan
- Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
- International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit (IIMD)
- Springboard to Opportunities
Washington
- El Centro de la Raza
New York
- Harlem Congregation for Community Improvement (HCCI)
Asian Services in Action
Casa Familiar
Center for Changing Lives (CCL)
Community Action Partnership of Orange County
Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)
CROP Organization
Eastmont Community Center
Eden United Church of Christ (EUCC)
Education and Leadership Foundation
El Centro de la Raza
ELACC (East LA Community Corporation)
Greater Chatham Initiative
Harlem Congregation for Community Improvement (HCCI)
Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit (IIMD)
LIFT LA
MAAC
MAOF
MiSide Community Impact Network
NEWSED
One22 Resource Center
Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
Refugee Women’s Network
SF LGBT Community Center
Springboard to Opportunities
The Resurrection Project
West Oakland Job Resource Center (WOJRC)
Youth Job Center
Familiar Traditions, Powerful Tools
“Lending Circles unlock a new door to possibility… It’s not just credit building; it’s familiar. Tandas in our communities are well-known. Having that familiarity, with MAF’s creativity and innovation, has been instrumental.” — Julio Pensamiento, Director of Strategic Partnership, Center for Changing Lives
Network Growth with Wells Fargo Foundation
In 2024, the Wells Fargo Foundation helped expand the Lending Circles network. New partners now serve clients with diverse needs — including immigrants, young adults, and justice-involved individuals.
Real Outcomes, Real People
At The Resurrection Project in Chicago, Lending Circles are paired with one-on-one coaching and credit repair services. One client, Sonia, raised her credit score by 65 points, reduced her debt by $7,000, and saved $1,000 — all while preparing to buy her first home.
A Social Loan Platform Built for Community
MAF built one of the first social loan platforms of its kind — a tech backbone that enables the full Lending Circles journey, from group formation to loan servicing to credit reporting.
This platform didn’t just help us serve clients more efficiently — it opened the door for scale. By licensing our technology, we empowered nonprofits across the country to offer Lending Circles in their own communities. Together, we’ve proven that tech can be a powerful force for financial inclusion.
📈 Today, Lending Circles are available through a growing network of nonprofit partners across the U.S.
Tech That Meets People Where They Are
MAF’s fintech innovations are deeply rooted in the lived experiences of our clients. We listen, iterate, and build tools that respond to real needs — not the other way around.
We design technology that is:
- Mobile-first and bilingual
- Grounded in dignity and self-determination
- Supportive of long-term financial resilience
Our Digital Tools in Action
We launched MyMAF mobile app in 2018, a bilingual digital platform for financial education and goal setting. Clients can:
- Check their credit score
- Create an emergency savings plan
- Build a household budget
- Set and track personal financial goals
Where Insight Becomes Action
We start every relationship by listening. When Matilde shared her family’s challenges, we learned to add peer coaching. When entrepreneurs asked for help, we built MyMAF’s business modules. Program tweaks aren’t features—they’re love notes written in code.
“When we recognize the strengths alive in our communities, we transform what the financial system calls ‘invisible’ into undeniable power.”
— José Quiñonez
