Express Credit Union Furthers Small Business Vision with GoWest Foundation Support

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on September 23, 2026

With support from a GoWest Foundation planning grant, Express Credit Union is exploring how it can expand access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs throughout King County, Wash.

The project focuses on researching, designing, and preparing for the launch of a small business lending program aimed at addressing financing barriers faced by low-income, immigrant, Hispanic, and ITIN-using business owners. Through community engagement, market research, and collaboration with local partners, Express is examining gaps in the current funding ecosystem and identifying opportunities to provide affordable, flexible lending solutions.

As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Express Credit Union sees the initiative as a natural extension of its mission to advance financial inclusion and create pathways to long-term community wealth building.

“At Express we often hear from entrepreneurs and community partners about businesses struggling to access affordable capital through traditional lenders,” said Elizabeth Escobar, chief business officer at Express Credit Union. “Many of the communities we serve, particularly immigrant, Hispanic, and low-income entrepreneurs, face barriers related to credit history, language access, or documentation requirements. We saw an opportunity to explore how Express could help fill that gap.”

Since receiving the grant in June, the credit union has focused on learning from organizations already serving small businesses and evaluating what it would take to launch a sustainable lending program.

“One of our biggest goals has been listening and learning,” Escobar said. “We’ve spent time connecting with organizations already supporting small businesses and assessing what it would take to build a lending program that is both sustainable for the credit union and impactful for the community. We’re enrolled in business underwriting training and have more meetings scheduled to learn about ways we can fit into the ecosystem that exists in King County.”

The planning process includes developing potential loan products, underwriting approaches, operational systems, and partnerships that reflect the realities of entrepreneurs with nontraditional financial profiles. By grounding the work in community feedback and local data, Express aims to create solutions that strengthen neighborhood businesses and contribute to a more resilient local economy.

Looking ahead, the credit union hopes the grant period will culminate in a clear roadmap for implementation.

“Success would mean having a board-ready proposal backed by research, community input, financial analysis, and a clear implementation plan,” Escobar said. “We want to be confident that when we move forward, we’re launching a program that truly meets community needs and can be sustained for the long term.”

Escobar also praised the simplicity of the GoWest Foundation grant process.

“We appreciated that the GoWest Foundation making the application process super simple,” she said. “It wasn’t complicated nor did it require a ton of granular information. The goal is to help Credit Unions get started and moving on a project and not tied down in all the details and reporting. They trust us and want to give us the flexibility of trying something new.”

If successful, the initiative could help expand financial opportunities for entrepreneurs who have historically struggled to access traditional business financing, creating greater economic mobility and strengthening communities across King County.

As Express Credit Union’s planning grant demonstrates, meaningful impact often starts with asking questions, listening to communities, and exploring new possibilities. Credit unions interested in advancing housing, small business, or rural financial access initiatives can seek GoWest Foundation grants as a way to turn ideas into action and build a stronger future for the communities they serve.

Posted in GoWest Foundation, Regional Member News, Top Headlines, Washington.