History

For over two decades, the Metropolitan Washington Bankers Group has been engaged in efforts designed to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. We strongly believe that by working together we can better meet the financial services needs of the community. Our goal is simple --- to collectively ensure our communities and neighborhoods are good places to live, work, raise families and do business.

The Metropolitan Washington Bankers Group has hosted or facilitated numerous activities to include: Credit Education Workshops; Anti-Predatory Lending Education Courses; Capacity Building for Community Based Organizations and Community Development Corporations; Community Forums on Affordable Housing; and Financial Literacy Education.

The Group’s efforts are not limited to technical expertise, information sessions and training. In the mid 1990’s, recognizing the challenges associated with homeownership, the group joined with various concerned parties to organize the Capital Area Mortgage Partnership - an effort designed to provide counseling and assistance to low- and moderate- income individuals desiring to purchase a home in the District of Columbia. Through this effort, numerous individuals and/or families were able to purchase their first home.

Understanding the integral role small businesses play in the economy and the challenges entrepreneurs face in obtaining access to capital, members of the Metropolitan Washington Bankers Group were actively involved in the formation of an intermediary that provides capital for small businesses in the District of Columbia. Since inception, this effort has provided over $10M in loans to small businesses in the District of Columbia.

Realizing the demand for quality childcare was growing and believing that our children are a very important resource, the Metropolitan Washington Bankers Group joined with other stakeholders to form the Child Care Works Initiative. The Initiative provided loans, grants and training to licensed neighborhood in home childcare providers in the District of Columbia. Through partnership with this effort and other childcare related initiatives, the Metropolitan Washington Bankers Group was instrumental in the preservation and/or creation of over 1,000 childcare slots.