Since our founding in 1992, financial participation in
the j-ref fund has grown from 3 to 9 Howard County
area bank partners, with a total commitment of
$3,375,000. The 10 area banks include:

The Columbia Bank serves as j-ref's loan servicing bank and administers the j-ref loan portfolio pro bono.


CRA Benefits

j-ref assists its banking partners achieve their affirmative obligations and long-term commitments to low and moderate income customers doing business in Howard County as required by the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1997.

j-ref serves as a CRA marketing arm for its banking partners and provides the following services consistent with safe and sound lending practices:

  • Through access to lines of credit at our participating banks, j-ref makes direct loans to those start-up and emerging companies unable to obtain traditional bank financing.
  • j-ref works with its participating banks as a referral source to those small businesses that are bankable.