CDFI CERTIFICATION APPLICATION & DATA COLLECTION REPORTING REVISIONS

In 2020, the CDFI Fund requested public comment on a revised CDFI Certification Application, Annual Certification and Data Collection Report (ACR), and updated methods for collecting transactional level data from Certified CDFIs. In anticipation of a second round of comment that will be initiated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the CDFI Fund will be providing updated information and guidance documents for use by organizations interested in preparing public comment submissions. Organizations should check this site on a regular basis for updates and revised information.

CDFI Certification Application: Preview of 2022 Revisions

In preparation for a final round of public comments that will be solicited by OMB, the CDFI Fund is providing an advanced copy of revisions to the proposed CDFI Certification Application that were made in response to the initial comment solicitation from 2020.

Clarifying questions, related to this preview of the CDFI Certification Application only, can be submitted to cert-review@cdfi.treas.gov. Please note, official comments on the CDFI Certification Application MUST be submitted to OMB in accordance with directions in the official Request for Comments that will be published in a future issue of the Federal Register. The CDFI Fund is unable to accept official comments.

ACR AND TRANSACTION LEVEL REPORTING: 2022 REVISIONS

OMB has published a request for a final round of comment on revisions to the ACR and Transaction Level Report (TLR). This comment period offers the public an opportunity to provide input on further modifications proposed to the ACR and the updated methods for collecting transactional level data from all Certified CDFIs.

CDFI CERTIFICATION APPLICATION: TARGET MARKET VERIFICATION

The CDFI Fund seeks feedback from the public on a proposed list of pre-approved Target Market assessment methodologies, as well as any information that would assist the CDFI Fund in establishing policies and procedures related to Target Market assessment methodologies. The proposed Target Market assessment methodologies would be utilized by organizations applying for CDFI Certification to assess whether the end-users of their Financial Products/Services are members of a pre-approved Target Market. Comments are due to the CDFI Fund by December 19, 2022.

Blackout Period: CDFI Certification Application

In July 2022, the CDFI Fund announced it is initiating a pause on all new CDFI Certification applications effective October 1, 2022. Please review the announcement and FAQ information below.

Blackout Period: Certification Cure Period

CDFIs currently in a Certification cure period related to a 2021 or 2022 ACR Report Year submission are obligated to adhere to the specific deadlines and deliverables associated with that cure requirement during the blackout period. Please review the supplemental information below.

2020 Request For Public Comment Information

In May 2020, the CDFI Fund request public comment period on a revised CDFI Certification Application and two Certification reports: the ACR and a new Certification Transaction Level Report (CTLR). The deadline to submit comments for consideration (for this comment period) was November 5, 2020. The documents below were provided as reference material to aid in the submission of comments, as well as to convey general information on the scope of proposed revisions. For an overview of why the CDFI Fund was making these changes, please read this Message from CDFI Fund Director Jodie Harris here.

Public Comments

In response to this request, the CDFI Fund received 55 letters with over 600 unique comments to proposed changes to the CDFI Fund’s Certification Application, ACR as well as a new CTLR.

Frequently Asked Questions

In response to requests for clarifications of terms and procedures contained in the proposed CDFI Certification Application, ACR, and CTLR; and to assist organizations in developing responses to the solicitation for public comment, the CDFI Fund has provided a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document.

CDFI Certification Application

The CDFI Fund solicited public comment on proposed changes to the CDFI Certification Application. Below are information resources about the revised CDFI Certification Application.

Annual Certification and Data Collection Report (ACR) & Certification Transaction Level Report (CTLR)

The CDFI Fund solicited public comment on proposed changes to the existing ACR as well as a new CTLR. The following provides information about the proposed revisions.

2017 Request for Information

In January 2017, the CDFI Fund initiated a review of its CDFI Certification policies and procedures. This review was conducted to ensure that the CDFI Fund’s Certification practices continue to reflect and represent the evolving nature of CDFIs, as well as to safeguard government resources. As part of this process, the CDFI Fund requested public input on various aspects of CDFI Certification.