FY 2026 Bank Enterprise Award Program Application
🏛 Community Development Financial Institutions
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for FDIC-insured depository institutions (banks and thrifts) that want to increase their community and economic development activities. Eligible applicants must be federally insured banks or thrift institutions. The program rewards institutions for increasing investments in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and expanding qualified lending, investment, and service activities in economically distressed communities. Awards range from $10,000 to $600,000.
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Program description
Through the Bank Enterprise Award Program (BEA Program), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) supports FDIC-insured financial institutions around the country that are dedicated to financing and supporting community and economic development activities. The BEA Program complements the community development activities of insured depository institutions (i.e., banks and thrifts) by providing monetary awards for increasing investments in CDFIs and for increasing qualified lending, investment, and service activities within economically distressed communities. Providing BEA Program awards for increasing community development activities leverages the CDFI Fund’s dollars and puts more capital to work in distressed communities throughout the nation.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Application form (CDFI Fund-specific)
- Financial data and investment documentation
- Evidence of CDFI partnerships and investments
- Summary of qualified lending and service activities
- Baseline and current year community development metrics
Program contact
- 👤 Henny Winarsoo Grantor
- 📧 bea@cdfi.treas.gov
- 📞 202-653-0333
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 21.021 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$437,350
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$437,350
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$437,350
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$437,350
-
$437,350
-
$437,350
-
$437,350
-
$437,350
-
$437,350
-
$437,350
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 21.021). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $40,075,069 | |
| 2026 est. | $40,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the Bank Enterprise Award Program?
Only FDIC-insured depository institutions (banks and thrifts) are eligible. Your institution must be federally insured to qualify.
What activities does the BEA Program fund?
The program rewards increased investments in CDFIs and qualified lending, investment, and service activities in economically distressed communities.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline for FY 2026 applications is July 24, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
How much funding can my institution receive?
Awards range from $10,000 to $600,000 depending on your institution's activities and investments.
Is cost sharing required?
No, cost sharing is not required for this grant program.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Document all CDFI investments and activities clearly. The program focuses on measurable increases in community development work.
- Show how your institution has expanded lending and services in economically distressed areas. Use data from your prior year to demonstrate growth.
- Align your application with CDFI Fund priorities. Emphasize partnerships with existing CDFIs and underserved community focus.
- Plan ahead for the July 2026 deadline. Allow sufficient time to gather financial data and investment documentation.
- Highlight both the dollar amount and community impact of your qualified activities. Reviewers want to see meaningful benefit to distressed communities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to clearly document baseline and increased CDFI investments. Submitting incomplete financial data or activity records. Treating this as a general operating support grant rather than a performance-based award for specific community development activities.
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