Accessity: Expanding access to credit for low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs
Accessity is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on providing economic opportunity to entrepreneurs in Southern California, particularly those who have limited access to traditional financial services.
How Accessity supports small businesses in the United States
- Low- and moderate-income (LMI) entrepreneurs often face systemic barriers when trying to access capital — from biased credit-score-based lending models to predatory practices by online lenders that hide rates and fees. Without access to affordable finance, many promising small businesses are pushed out of the market before they have a chance to launch and grow.
- Accessity, a Southern California-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), is closing that gap. The organization provides access to capital and education for LMI entrepreneurs, offering loan capital ranging from $300 to $150,000. Their model is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, offering tailored financial tools that help borrowers build and invest in their communities.
Program overview
Our work together
- Mastercard Strive USA partnered with Accessity to invest in a new AI-powered tool called SmartLend that makes their lending model more efficient and strengthens their relationship with clients. SmartLend analyzes lending data to predict customer experience outcomes and the likelihood of repayment or default — making the lending process more accessible, efficient, and transparent.
- SmartLend streamlines workflows by providing preliminary approval recommendations (which are then reviewed by a loan officer), flagging fraudulent activity, and surfacing digital resources based on each entrepreneur’s financial profile. That efficiency frees up Accessity’s staff to focus on personalized, hands-on support for borrowers who need it most.
- Over time, Accessity will use the insights from SmartLend to better understand client needs across their entire portfolio.
By the numbers
- Since 1994, Accessity has disbursed over $91 million through 6,300+ loans to help start and grow Southern California small businesses.
Become a partner
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Mar Diteos Rendon
AccessityAt Accessity, we are stepping into a new era where innovation meets purpose. Our partnership with Mastercard Strive USA and the launch of SmartLend reflect our commitment to expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers to financing. This AI-powered tool enhances efficiency without compromising the human connection at the heart of our work. It gives us deeper insight into our clients’ needs and helps create a more personalized, transparent, and impactful lending experience. We’re showing what’s possible when technology empowers rather than replaces the human touch.
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