New Hampshire Community Loan Fund Earns Investment-Grade Rating from Fitch

Positive Outlook reflects improving leverage and strengthening capital at one of the nation's first CDFIs

CONCORD, N.H., October 19, 2026--New Hampshire Community Loan Fund (the Community Loan Fund), a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), today announced that Fitch Ratings has assigned the organization an 'A-' Issuer Default Rating with a Positive Outlook, making it one of a small number of CDFIs nationwide rated by a credit rating agency registered with and regulated by the SEC.

Fitch cited the Community Loan Fund's four-decade track record, its leading position in lending to resident-owned manufactured-home communities (ROCs), and its strong asset quality, including a five-year average nonperforming loan ratio of 1.2%, net charge-offs averaging 0.0%, and zero losses on ROC loans.

The Positive Outlook reflects improving leverage and capital. The debt-to-equity ratio improved to 2.0x in fiscal 2025 and 2026, from more than 3.0x in the prior five-year period, and Fitch's core capital ratio rose to 26%. Fitch noted the rating could move higher if these trends continue.

"For more than four decades, we've shown that lending to resident-owned communities and manufactured-home owners is both mission-critical and financially sound," said Steve Saltzman, President and CEO of New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. "This rating opens the door to new institutional investors, and that capital will help more homeowners preserve their communities, more families finance a home, and more local businesses grow."

The rating follows steady growth. The loan portfolio grew from $153 million in fiscal 2022 to $213 million in fiscal 2026, and the earned income ratio reached 95%, reflecting limited reliance on grants. Fitch credited disciplined underwriting and risk management.

Fitch also recognized the Community Loan Fund's borrower support programs, including financial education, counseling, and loss mitigation, as contributing to its credit performance.

The rating is expected to broaden access to institutional investors and diversify funding, supporting the expansion of the Community Loan Fund's lending across New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and the Northeast.

"New Hampshire Community Loan Fund has proven that resident ownership and disciplined lending go hand in hand," said Jaime Aldama, President and CEO of Momentus Securities. "This rating, and its Positive Outlook, gives institutional investors an independent benchmark for that track record and positions the Community Loan Fund to bring new, long-term capital to the communities it serves."