Our Mission

Building Strong Communities

Mission in Action: Business & Community Lenders of Texas (BCL of Texas) builds strong communities by helping Texans navigate opportunity, access responsible capital, and stay supported on the path to long-term stability and wealth.

---

Our Vision

A Texas where every person can navigate opportunity, access the resources they need, and build lasting wealth for themselves and future generations.

---

Our Purpose

BCL of Texas helps Texans build wealth by providing navigation, access to capital, and direct supportive services that turn opportunity into lasting stability. We guide people through complex systems, connect them to responsible financing, and stay alongside them with accountability and education, so homeownership, business ownership, and financial security are within reach.

---

Who We Are

BCL of Texas is a statewide nonprofit community development financial institution that helps Texans navigate the path to financial stability and long-term wealth.

We are more than a lender. We are a navigation partner, guiding people through complex systems, connecting them to responsible capital, and providing the direct support and accountability needed to turn opportunity into lasting outcomes.

Our work centers on helping individuals, families, and small businesses access wealth-building opportunities such as homeownership and entrepreneurship. We do this by combining three essential elements:

• Navigation – Clear guidance through financial, regulatory, and market systems
• Access to Capital – Responsible lending designed to meet real community needs
• Support & Accountability* – Education, coaching, and follow-through that help people stay on track and succeed

We intentionally serve communities that have historically faced barriers to opportunity.

At BCL of Texas, we believe that success is not just about a loan; it is about a relationship, a plan, and a future. We walk alongside our clients from their first question to their next milestone, helping them build something that lasts.

---

Value Statement

At BCL of Texas, our work is guided by three core values:

Reliable: We do what we say we will do. Our clients, partners, and communities can count on us for clear communication, consistent follow-through, and responsible stewardship of resources.

Innovative: We listen, adapt, and build solutions that meet real needs. We design new programs, tools, and partnerships that remove barriers and expand access to opportunity.

Committed: We stand with our clients and communities for the long term. We advocate, support, and stay engaged, because meaningful impact requires trust, accountability, and persistence.

Together, these values shape how we serve, lead, and help Texans build stronger communities.

---

Our History

BCL of Texas was created with a simple but powerful belief: when people have access to capital and trusted guidance, they can build something lasting, for themselves, their families, and their communities.

We were formed in 1990, at the invitation of the SBA San Antonio District Office, to help established Central Texas businesses access commercial real estate financing. What began as a small, regional lender has grown into a statewide community development financial institution serving entrepreneurs, homeowners, and families across Texas.

Our first loan was made to Juan Portillo, who purchased an office building for his business, Tramex Travel. More than three decades later, his business is still operating and growing, just as we are. His story reflects what has always driven our work: investing in people who are building for the long term.

As we grew, we listened closely to our communities. We saw that access to capital alone was not enough. People needed guidance, structure, and ongoing support to succeed. So we evolved, expanding into small, business lending, consumer loan programs, homebuyer education, mortgage lending, and community real estate development.

Today, BCL serves Texans statewide, with full-time offices and partners across the region. Our programs are designed to meet people where they are, whether they are starting a business, buying their first home, or working toward long-term financial stability.

At our core, BCL of Texas is your partner in navigation, helping you chart a path toward opportunity, financial stability, and long-term prosperity.

Our history is not just about where we started. It is about where we are going and who we are building with. If you are here, it is because you are planning for something bigger. We are here to help you get there.

---

Our Credentials

BCL of Texas is a U.S. Treasury Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a U.S. Small Business Administration Certified Development Corporation (CDC), and a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.

Our other credentials and certifications include:

• 501c3 nonprofit organization
• Community Development Entity (CDE)
• HUD Secondary Finance Lender
• Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (NMLS) Regulated Mortgage Lender
• Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Regulated Consumer Lender
• USDA Intermediary lender
• USDA Micro Lender
• U.S. Small Business Administration Micro Lender
• U.S. Small Business Administration Community Advantage (7a) Lender