Hank Hubbard sees a promising future for the city of Detroit, but he has learned from experience that rewards don't come without risks.

As president/CEO of the $30.4 million Communicating Arts Credit Union, Hubbard in March launched his institution into a new program that provides home improvement loans to low-income owners/occupants of distressed residential properties in the Motor City. The 0% interest 10-year loans are designed to help increase property values and strengthen neighborhoods – an ideal scenario intended to revive the crumbling metropolis.

Communicating Arts is the only credit union participating in the city-led coalition and, while Hubbard still supports the concept, he realized that the institution's good will efforts may cost the community development credit union more than it will earn on the loans it will grant.