A roundtable session for current and potential low incomedesignated credit unions will be held Monday, Feb. 25, from noon to1:30 p.m. at the GAC in Washington.

The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unionswill lead the session, which will focus on the process of becominga certified or re-certified CDFI. New certification requirementsand programs, the long-term prospects for the CDFI Fund andopportunities to shape the fund's agenda also will bediscussed.

Participants will include representatives from the CDFI Fund,U.S. Treasury Department, the Federation and credit union CEOs.Credit unions have received more than $135 million in CDFI awardssince the fund was created, the Federation said.

“CDFI certification is a valuable tool that, together with thelow-income designation, gives qualifying credit unions access toexternal resources and partnership opportunities that cansignificantly strengthen internal capacity to propel a credit unionto its next phase of growth and relevance,” said Pablo DeFilippi,director of membership at the Federation.

The NCUA recently launched a program to expand LICU designationsand CDFI-certified and LICUs now could soon represent as much as athird of all credit unions, the Federation said. Several hundredcredit unions signed up after the Obama administration madeexpanded eligibility part of a summer 2012 drought package.

Space for the roundtable session is limited and registration isonline.