Four Bands Community Fund — Business & Ag Loans
Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.
Up to $400,000
Native CDFI building Lakota business
Four Bands Community Fund is a certified Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Since its founding it has deployed over $53 million in loans and helped create or retain more than 1,300 jobs while building the financial skills of over 1,000 individuals. For entrepreneurs it offers four loan products: a Micro Loan (under $50,000, 8-10%), a Small Business Loan ($50,001-$400,000, 6-8%), a Business Line of Credit (6-10%, up to 12 months), and an Ag Business Loan (up to $400,000, 5.5-7%). Funds can be used for equipment, inventory, working capital, land or building acquisition, construction, and leasehold improvements. Lending is available to Native Americans and permanent residents of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and to enrolled tribal members residing in South Dakota; applicants may be required to complete the CREATE business training course and develop a business plan. Four Bands is known for a lending approach that starts from support rather than restriction.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $500 – $400,000
- Realistic amount
- Beginning entrepreneurs typically start with a Micro Loan (under $50,000) for start-up capit…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round.
- Status
- active
- States
- South Dakota
- Payment model
- loan
Who qualifies
- Native Americans and permanent residents of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation
- Enrolled tribal members residing in the state of South Dakota
- May be required to complete the CREATE business training course and develop a business plan
- Business or agricultural operation consistent with the loan product applied for
- Adequate collateral (terms are set to the life of the collateral for several products)
Hard requirements
- Reserved for minority owned businesses
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Equipment and inventory purchases
- Working capital
- Acquisition of land or buildings
- Construction of buildings
- Leasehold improvements
- Agricultural operating and asset costs (Ag Business Loan)
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses unrelated to the business
- Uses outside the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation / South Dakota service area
- Speculative or non-business purposes
How to apply
-
1
Contact Four Bands and confirm eligibility
Reach out (info@fourbands.org / (605) 964-3687) to confirm geographic/tribal eligibility and discuss which loan product fits your need.
~2 hrs
-
2
Complete CREATE training and business plan
If required, complete the CREATE business training course and develop a business plan with Four Bands' coaching support.
~20 hrs
-
3
Submit loan application with documentation
Provide the application, business plan, financials, and collateral information for the chosen product (Micro, Small Business, Line of Credit, or Ag).
~6 hrs
-
4
Underwriting, approval, and closing
Four Bands underwrites and, on approval, closes the loan and disburses funds per the agreement.
~3 hrs
Lean into the CREATE business training and coaching even if it feels like extra work — Four Bands lends from a position of support, and a well-developed business plan built through CREATE materially strengthens your file. The Ag Business Loan carries the lowest rate band (5.5-7%), so if your venture has an agricultural component, structure toward it.
Deadline & timing
No application cycle. Borrowers may be required to complete the CREATE business training course and develop a business plan before or alongside the loan application, which extends the timeline for first-time applicants.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.