Mission Driven Bank Fund Invests in Mississippi Community Bank to Advance Affordable Homeownership

The Mission Driven Bank Fund (MDBF) has made a strategic investment in GBS Financial Inc., the parent company of Grand Bank for Savings, FSB, a Minority-Depository Institution based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This move is part of MDBF's broader mission to support banks that serve historically underrepresented communities, with Grand.bank focusing on innovative financial products to promote affordable homeownership across the United States.

Chris Sawyer, president and CEO of Grand.bank, highlighted the alignment between the bank's goals and MDBF's mission, stating that the investment and technical support from MDBF will significantly contribute to their objective of improving the financial well-being of over one million members of underserved communities by 2030. Paul Welch, portfolio manager of MDBF, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Grand.bank's dedication to providing equitable financial opportunities as a key factor in the Fund's decision to invest.

This investment represents the 10th deployment by MDBF, which continues to raise capital with the aim of further supporting mission-aligned banks. The collaboration between MDBF and Grand.bank is a testament to the growing emphasis on closing the racial wealth gap through targeted financial services and products. By focusing on affordable homeownership, Grand.bank and MDBF are addressing a critical barrier to financial stability and generational wealth building in underserved communities.