; minority lending institution The terms minority and minority lending institution have the meaning given those terms, respectively, under section 103 of the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 ( 12 U.S.C. 4702 ). 707. Ensuring diversity in community banking (a) Sense of Congress on funding the loan-loss reserve fund for small dollar loans The sense of Congress is the following: (1) The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the CDFI Fund ) is an agency of the Department of the Treasury, and was established by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994. The mission of the CDFI Fund is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting the growth and capacity of a national network of community development lenders, investors, and financial service providers . A community development financial institution (a CDFI ) is a specialized financial institution serving low-income communities and a Community Development Entity (a CDE ) is a domestic corporation or partnership that is an intermediary vehicle for the provision of loans, investments, or financial counseling in low-income communities. The CDFI Fund certifies CDFIs and CDEs. Becoming a certified CDFI or CDE allows organizations to participate in various CDFI Fund programs as follows: (A) The Bank Enterprise Award Program, which provides FDIC-insured depository institutions awards for a demonstrated increase in lending and investments in distressed communities and CDFIs. (B) The CDFI Program, which provides Financial and Technical Assistance awards to CDFIs to reinvest in the CDFI, and to build the capacity of the CDFI, including financing product development and loan loss reserves. (C) The Native American CDFI Assistance Program, which provides CDFIs and sponsoring entities Financial and Technical Assistance awards to increase lending and grow the number of CDFIs owned by Native Americans to help build capacity of such CDFIs. (D) The New Market Tax Credit