The annual Opportunity Honors recognize the leading individuals and organizations in community development finance

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the nation’s leading investment intermediary and network of community development financial institutions (CDFIs), honored those advancing community development finance and expanding economic opportunity across the country at OFN42, the nation’s largest CDFI industry convening.

Industry Awards

The Opportunity Honors celebrate excellence across the CDFI industry, recognizing individuals and organizations who drive capital to communities underserved by mainstream finance.

“What connects this year’s honorees is not the geography they serve or the institutions they lead,” said OFN President and CEO Harold Pettigrew. “It is a shared belief that communities deserve the tools, capital, and support needed to shape their own futures. We are proud to celebrate leaders whose work continues to strengthen opportunity across the country.”

Colorado-based Oweesta Corporation, the longest-standing Native CDFI intermediary, received the Adina Abramowitz Impact Award for Organizational Growth and Change. This award recognizes a CDFI that embodies the principles of transformational growth and change that Abramowitz championed and honors her extraordinary legacy of building CDFIs’ capacity for over 30 years. Abramowitz was the managing partner of CDFI Friendly America. Known as a trailblazer in community development, she passed away in 2023. In 2024, OFN honored Abramowitz with the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance and then created this award in her name to carry on her memory.

OFN also honored Philadelphia Accelerator Fund with the Emerging Growth CDFI Award, which honors a small or emerging CDFI that has demonstrated exceptional growth and service to its community over the last three years.

South Dakota-based Four Bands Community Fund received the second annual Native CDFI Leadership Award, which recognizes a Native CDFI demonstrating strong leadership in advancing economic opportunity in Native communities.

For individuals, Marla Bilonick, President and CEO, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), received the Executive Leadership Award, which celebrates an outstanding executive leader within a CDFI who has demonstrated exceptional vision, perseverance, and leadership in driving capital to low-income communities.

Finally, Tate Hill, CEO of Access Plus Capital in California, accepted the Small Business Leader of the Year Award, which honors leaders whose vision and partnerships have driven lasting economic impact, and whose dedication reflects the best of what community development finance can be.

LEARN MORE: The Opportunity Honors | Oweesta Corporation | Philadelphia Accelerator Fund | Four Bands Community Fund | National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) | Access Plus Capital 

About Opportunity Finance Network

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is the nation’s leading network and intermediary focused on community development investment, managing more than $1 billion in total assets and a membership of nearly 500 community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which includes community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. Our network of CDFIs works to ensure communities left behind by mainstream finance have access to affordable, responsible financial products and services, with a deep focus on serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. OFN is a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors – foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and others – and, for more than 40 years, has helped partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for all.

Since its founding in 1986, OFN members have originated more than $136 billion in cumulative financing, helping to create or maintain nearly 3.8 million jobs, start or expand nearly 1.2 million businesses and microenterprises, and support the development or rehabilitation of nearly 3 million housing units and nearly 16,000 community facility projects.

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SOURCE Opportunity Finance Network

SINGAPORE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, a global leader in digital payments and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Singapore’s appeal as a preferred travel destination and to unlock new growth opportunities. The collaboration will focus on three key pillars – driving discovery of Singapore’s tourism products, especially its dining and night-time experiences; deriving insights to identify high-value tourism opportunities; and developing co-branded marketing campaigns to build brand preference for both Visa and Singapore.

Visa also announced that Singapore will be part of Visa Destinations, and the collaboration will leverage Visa Destinations as a platform to introduce strategic partnerships, flagship initiatives and experiences across Singapore’s tourism precincts and high-yield traveller segments.

Visa Destinations is a global travel programme designed to elevate how travellers discover and experience the world’s most iconic destinations. Singapore is the second country to launch Visa Destinations in Asia Pacific, following Thailand which was introduced in July this year. Other cities include London, New York, and Paris, reinforcing the city’s position as a leading travel hub. The programme will commence in Singapore in November this year.

Curating distinctively local experiences to inspire discovery of Singapore

The first pillar of collaboration will focus on benefits and experiences for travellers across tourism industries including attractions, dining, entertainment, retail and tours, which are key categories of spend.

Visa’s data shows that shopping and dining are significant contributors to traveller spend. This reinforces the importance of curating meaningful experiences that give travellers compelling reasons to return to Singapore, particularly as repeat visitors spend approximately four times more than first-time visitors[1]. Visa’s spend trend data and insights can sharpen the understanding of visitor segments, source markets and experiences with the greatest potential to drive higher-value demand, deeper exploration and repeat travel.

Visa and STB will also work closely to curate offers that showcase local businesses across tourism precincts, including building on an existing partnership with Pelago by Singapore Airlines to promote attractions and tours, supported by seamless, secure payment experiences throughout the visitor journey. These include introducing benefits and experience packages for Visa cardholders globally through the Visa Destinations platform at key attractions in Singapore.

The partnership will also spotlight Singapore’s vibrant night-time experiences, with both parties collaborating to drive demand, including building on an existing collaboration with Grab. Singapore’s night-time dynamism is a compelling part of its destination appeal, with flagship events such as the Singapore Grand Prix creating opportunities for visitors to experience the city after dark. The latest data from Visa indicated that during the F1™[2] Singapore Night Race 2026 race week, there was uplift in spend on restaurant and entertainment categories by two-thirds. Spending grew throughout the day, where evening spend climbed by almost half between 7pm and 11pm, and nearly doubled between 11pm and 5am[3].

Harnessing insights and targeted campaigns to drive high-value tourism

The second pillar will focus on harnessing tourism insights to identify high-value tourism opportunities through rich insights from Visa’s global network of cardholder data and analytics capabilities.

Visa data shows that some of the largest inbound travel corridors to Singapore amongst Visa cardholders include Australia, Indonesia, Mainland China, Malaysia and the United States[4]. This aligns with STB’s visitor arrival data, where these markets are among the largest source markets of visitors to Singapore. As there are common markets of interest, pooling available market data will allow both parties to develop a deeper understanding of visitor behaviour and preferences, tailor more targeted initiatives in response, and ensure efforts are focused on markets and segments with the highest potential for high-value tourism growth.

The third pillar of cooperation will see Visa and STB develop co-branded marketing campaigns anchored on the brand strengths of Visa Destinations and STB’s Passion Made Possible. The partners will roll out initiatives across key source markets, supported by destination-led storytelling, co-marketing activities and in-destination activations. These efforts will combine tailored travel content with exclusive access and experiences for Visa cardholders, building on the success of past campaigns such as Visa-STB-Pelago’s ‘Seasons. Made in Singapore’ and ‘Non-stop Fun’ which built on STB’s ‘Made in Singapore’ and ‘We Don’t Wait For Fun’ campaigns.

“Singapore is already a world-class destination with strong global appeal. Our partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board is about converting that appeal into deeper engagement, bringing together STB’s destination expertise with Visa’s global network, travel insights and partnerships to inspire more international travellers to visit and return,” said Adeline Kim, Group Country Manager, Regional Southeast Asia, & SVP, Global Clients, Asia Pacific, Visa. “Visa Destinations will help turn inspiration into action by connecting our cardholders with benefits, exclusive access and distinctive experiences across attractions, dining, entertainment, retail and tours. Together, we can make every stage of the journey more rewarding and seamless, while helping visitors discover more of Singapore and supporting the country’s ambition for high-value tourism growth,” she added.

“As travellers today increasingly seek more personalised and distinctive experiences, Singapore continues to evolve to inspire new discoveries with every visit. This partnership with Visa brings together its global reach, insights and network of partners with STB’s destination expertise to curate compelling, high-quality experiences and data-driven marketing campaigns that resonate with travellers’ interests. Through this collaboration, we aim to create more opportunities for our tourism businesses and advance STB’s Tourism 2040 priorities through impactful, high-quality tourism growth,” said Melissa Ow, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board.

To see the list of Singapore’s Visa Destinations’ benefits and experiences, click here.

***

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About the Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.

More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com   | Follow us: STB LinkedIn, STB Facebook or STB Instagram

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SOURCE Visa

Opportunity Finance Network awards its highest honor to Esteban for his leadership and commitment to serving underserved communities in Florida

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the nation’s leading network and intermediary focused on community development finance, honored Ignacio Esteban with the 2026 Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance during The Opportunity Honors Award Ceremony and Reception Thursday evening at the 42nd annual OFN Conference in New Orleans. The Gramlich Award is the community development finance industry’s highest individual honor and recognizes people of distinction and their impact on the community development financial institution (CDFI) industry.

For nearly 30 years, Esteban devoted his leadership, vision, and commitment to Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF). Under his guidance, FCLF grew into a leading community development financial institution serving low-income communities across Florida by providing flexible financing for nonprofit organizations and mission-based for-profit organizations that develop affordable housing, supportive housing, community facilities, and economic development projects. Esteban retired as FCLF’s chief executive officer in July 2026 after 26 years of service, having also served as development officer and interim executive director. He passed away the following month, leaving a legacy that extends beyond the institution he helped build to the colleagues, communities, and CDFI leaders he influenced across the country. 

“Ignacio Esteban understood that institutions matter because they can carry a purpose farther than any one leader can carry it alone,” said Harold Pettigrew, President and CEO of OFN. “For nearly three decades, he brought both seriousness to the work and generosity to the people doing it, building Florida Community Loan Fund into an enduring force for opportunity and strengthening our entire field. This award honors Ignacio’s extraordinary body of work and a legacy that will continue through the institutions, communities, and people he helped shape.”

Esteban helped build and lead Florida’s first statewide CDFI with $620 million in total assets currently under management. As FCLF’s CEO, he led $913.6 million in FCLF capital and an additional $1.76 billion leveraged through partnerships for 543 loans, strengthening nonprofits and communities across Florida and impacting over three million people annually. Under his leadership, FCLF secured $586 million in New Markets Tax Credits – the most in Florida. In 2024, FCLF received an unsolicited $10 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and her Yield Giving charity, affirming FCLF’s strength and his exceptional leadership.  

“Ignacio dedicated his career to expanding access to capital and maximizing opportunities for people and communities,” said Tammy Thomas, Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer at Florida Community Loan Fund. “We are incredibly proud to see his life’s work honored with the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition is a fitting tribute to the impact of his leadership, not only at the Florida Community Loan Fund, but across the CDFI industry.”

Esteban previously served as OFN’s board chair, where he led the organization to develop a 15-year strategic plan, including a meeting with then-Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. He also served as a board member for nine years, chaired the Finance and Nominating Committees, and served on the Policy Committee.

LEARN MORE | Ignacio Esteban and Florida Community Loan Fund | Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance | The Opportunity Honors

About the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance

Established in 2007, the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance is the community development finance industry’s highest individual honor. It is awarded annually at the OFN Conference to individuals whose careers exemplify leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to expanding economic opportunity.

The spirit of the award is to celebrate people of distinction who have produced a body of work that sets them apart within the CDFI industry. These individuals have shaped the field through innovation, institution-building, and a relentless focus on impact—leaving a legacy that continues to influence the sector and the communities it serves.

The award is named for Ned Gramlich, a staunch, longtime advocate for responsible finance. As the former Board of Governors’ primary liaison to the Federal Reserve’s Consumer Advisory Council, Gramlich advised on community development and consumer finance policy matters. He was an outspoken voice against predatory lending and a strong defender of the Community Reinvestment Act. He served on the OFN Board of Directors from October 2006 until his death in 2007.

About Opportunity Finance Network

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is the nation’s leading network and intermediary focused on community development investment, managing more than $1 billion in total assets and a membership of nearly 500 community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which includes community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. Our network of CDFIs works to ensure communities left behind by mainstream finance have access to affordable, responsible financial products and services, with a deep focus on serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. OFN is a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors – foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and others – and, for more than 40 years, has helped partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for all.

Since its founding in 1986, OFN members have originated more than $136 billion in cumulative financing, helping to create or maintain nearly 3.8 million jobs, start or expand nearly 1.2 million businesses and microenterprises, and support the development or rehabilitation of nearly 3 million housing units and nearly 16,000 community facility projects.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ignacio-esteban-receives-2026-ned-gramlich-lifetime-achievement-award-for-responsible-finance-302917607.html

SOURCE Opportunity Finance Network