At a glance
From its website, read 29 Oct 2026Grameen America, Inc. is a loan fund based in New York, New York. Its website describes microloans and small-business loans. Stated loan amounts run from $500. Where it lends: Members living within a 15-mile radius of branch locations in listed U.S. cities. The consumer loan APR it states is 18%. It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history. You can start an application online. It serves borrowers in Spanish.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| info@grameenamerica.org source | |
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | www.grameenamerica.org |
| Office (official list) | 276 Fifth Avenue, Suite 505, New York, NY 10001 |
What their website says about applying
a group of four other entrepreneurs in your community that you know and trust
sourcein a week of training to learn about the program and loan requirements.
sourceShould you meet the eligibility requirements, a team member will reach out to you with next steps.
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 29 Oct 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans (general) | Rate: 18% APR | Annual percentage rate of 18% on a declining balance | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- No or thin credit history considered
No credit score, collateral, or business income is required to receive a microloan from Grameen America.
source - Collateral flexible or not always required
No collateral or credit history is required for a loan
source - Low or damaged credit considered
Grameen America loans are not contingent on collateral or credit scores
source - Training or counseling required
in a week of training to learn about the program and loan requirements.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 18 Feb 2016 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 276 Fifth Avenue, Suite 505, New York, NY 10001 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.grameenamerica.org |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 29 Oct 2026Read from 6 pages of the lender's website on 29 Oct 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Reviewed by a person (Oct 2026). Items added later were extracted with AI help and checked automatically against the pages listed below. Confidence: high. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microloans | $500 – $2,500 | Our first-time loan is between $500 and $2,500 and every six months | source |
| Small-business loans | — | Grameen America expands access to capital for small business owners by offering first-time and ongoing loans to start or grow a small business. | source |
Loan sizes
Our first-time loan is between $500 and $2,500
sourceOur first-time loan is between $500 and $2,500 and every six months
sourceGrameen America provides access to affordable business capital by offering first-time loans starting at no more than $2,500.
source
Range used for the size filter: $500 to not stated
Service area
Members living within a 15-mile radius of branch locations in listed U.S. cities
Our program requires all members to be near our branch location within a 15-mile radius.
source
Borrower focus
Languages
- Spanish
¿Requiere esta información en español?
source
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Request A Loan
source
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 29 Oct 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- What is the largest loan you make?
Their website gives a minimum ($500) but no maximum. - How long can I take to repay?
No repayment terms are stated on their website. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$15.7 million in 9 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2016–2024 (CDFI Equitable Recovery Program; CDFI Program, Financial Assistance; CDFI Rapid Response Program).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $2,485,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Equitable Recovery Program | $4,957,678 |
| 2022 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,107,900 |
| 2021 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,046,530 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
| 2020 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $887,500 |
| 2019 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,029,000 |
| 2017 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $596,500 |
| 2016 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,750,000 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Size of the fund (IRS Form 990)
Fiscal year ending Dec 2023| Total assets | $374.4M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $174.1M |
| Net assets | $200.3M |
| Total revenue | $83.4M |
| Program-related investments (Part X line 13) | $267.6M |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending December 2023 (tax year 2023; EIN 20-8497991, filed as “GRAMEEN AMERICA INC”), taken from the IRS Annual Extract of Tax-Exempt Organization Financial Data (returns processed in 2024). Figures are self-reported to the IRS, not audited by us, and lag one to two years behind today. The lender’s own annual report may show newer numbers. This organisation’s filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Filings over time
| Fiscal year ending | Total assets | Net assets | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2021 (990) | $237.1M | $131.7M | $50.2M |
| Dec 2022 (990) | $278.8M | $149.8M | $46.4M |
| Dec 2023 (990) | $374.4M | $200.3M | $83.4M |
Total assets grew 58% from Dec 2021 to Dec 2023. One row per fiscal year in the IRS extracts of returns processed in 2022, 2023, 2024; “—” = the line was empty or zero on that return (a fund can book its loans on other lines).
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $374.4M | Larger than 95% of the 39 other certified loan funds and venture funds in New York with a matched Form 990 (median $12.6M). |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in New York | 39 | larger than 95% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section).
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