Old National Bank Backs Brightpoint With $2M Equity Investment to Expand Access to Capital

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In a major step forward for community lending efforts in Northeast Indiana, Brightpoint Development Fund has secured a $2 million Equity Equivalent Investment (EQ2) from Old National Bank.

The strategic investment is expected to enhance Brightpoint’s role as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), allowing it to expand lending and financial education initiatives across the region. The Fort Wayne-based nonprofit, established in 2011, focuses on providing business loans, affordable housing solutions, and economic empowerment programs to residents traditionally excluded from mainstream finance.

Strengthening community capital access

The EQ2 investment is structured to function like equity for the purpose of leveraging additional lending capacity, without diluting ownership or control. That flexibility is essential for CDFIs like Brightpoint, which operate with both financial and social return mandates.

“Old National Bank’s investment in Brightpoint Development Fund will significantly expand our ability to provide affordable capital to individuals and small businesses who are often excluded from traditional financing,” said Matt Crouch, Brightpoint’s Vice President of Community Economic Development.

The funds will support Brightpoint’s initiatives including:

• Community Loan Center of Northeast Indiana, which offers low-interest consumer loans.

• Small business microloan programs, designed to foster local entrepreneurship.

• Personal Financial Foundations, an educational series aimed at improving financial literacy and stability among low- to moderate-income households.

Partnership with long-term impact

Old National Bank described the partnership as a long-term investment in the region’s economic resilience.

“This investment in Brightpoint is truly a commitment to our community,” said Justin Libey, Community Banking Relationship Manager and VP at Old National Bank. “Brightpoint is the administrator of so many impactful and vital services. We trust they will maximize these funds to improve the lives of those in need.”

The $2 million injection adds to recent public-sector funding from Fort Wayne’s Legacy Fund and the Allen County/Fort Wayne Capital Improvement Board, further signaling institutional confidence in Brightpoint’s community finance model.

A certified lender with national recognition

Brightpoint Development Fund holds certification as a U.S. Treasury-designated CDFI and operates as a SBA micro lender, reinforcing its credibility in the federal community finance ecosystem.

As a subsidiary of Brightpoint, the Fund works in tandem with other community support services including housing development, workforce training, and family self-sufficiency programs.

The EQ2 financing structure—used nationally by major banks to meet Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) goals—offers CDFIs patient capital that can be recycled into multiple rounds of lending activity.

Building inclusive growth in Northeast Indiana

This investment arrives at a time when access to capital remains a barrier for many entrepreneurs and families across Allen County and neighboring rural areas.

Brightpoint’s model targets what many traditional lenders overlook:

• First-time or credit-invisible borrowers.

• Small business owners lacking collateral.

• Families seeking alternatives to high-interest payday or emergency loans.

By scaling its lending and education programs, the organization aims to close financial gaps and empower more residents to build generational wealth.

Looking ahead

Brightpoint leaders say the funding will help the organization continue its transition from a local nonprofit to a regional force for inclusive economic development, with an eye toward scalability and deeper community partnerships.

As CDFIs gain renewed attention nationally for their role in combating systemic financial inequities, investments like this one may represent a blueprint for sustainable, mission-aligned banking collaboration.