Five Star Bank Supports TMC Community Capital’s Mission to Unlock Small Business Growth Across California
SAN JOSE, CA — TMC Community Capital (TMC) has announced that Five Star Bank has provided a $10 million credit facility to TMC, a mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to fueling the dreams of underserved small business owners across California. The credit facility will dramatically expand TMC's ability to originate below-market-rate microloans — delivering real, tangible opportunity to entrepreneurs who have been shut out of traditional financing for far too long.
This is more than a financial transaction. It is a declaration that every small business owner — regardless of zip code, credit history, or background — deserves a fair shot at the American dream.
Closing the Gap. Opening Doors.
Millions of California small business owners — disproportionately women, people of color, and immigrants — face nearly insurmountable barriers when seeking capital. Conventional banks often require years of financial history, collateral, and credit scores that many deserving entrepreneurs simply don't have. Too often, this gap leaves entrepreneurs vulnerable to high-cost, predatory lenders that charge excessive interest rates and fees, trapping borrowers in cycles of debt that stall business growth instead of enabling it.
TMC Community Capital exists to change that equation. With this new $10 million credit facility from Five Star Bank, TMC will continue to scale its microloan portfolio, delivering flexible, affordable financing to thousands of additional small businesses that generate local jobs, strengthen communities, and build generational wealth.
“This banking relationship represents exactly the kind of bold, community-first banking we stand for. TMC Community Capital will continue to help the entrepreneurs who make California’s economy dynamic, diverse, and resilient. We are proud to support TMC in the fulfilment of their mission.”
— DJ Kurtze, EVP / San Francisco Bay Area President, Five Star Bank
Capital That Actually Reaches Main Street
TMC Community Capital's proven lending model provides below-market interest rates alongside technical assistance — ensuring borrowers don't have to wait to receive capital or turn to risky alternatives. Loan sizes range from $5,000 to $50,000, covering equipment, inventory, working capital, and more.
Five Star Bank's $10 million credit facility will directly enable TMC to:
✔ Originate one thousand microloans annually to underserved business owners
✔ Expand outreach into rural and low-income communities historically bypassed by traditional lenders
✔ Offer below-market interest rates that keep debt service manageable for early-stage businesses
✔ Fund applications within ten business days
“We see the determination from our borrowers’ every single day. What they lack is not ambition or talent — it’s timely and affordable access to capital. This extraordinary credit facility from Five Star Bank will let us say ‘yes’ to thousands more entrepreneurs who deserve a chance to build something meaningful. Together, we’re rewriting who gets to succeed in California.”
— Daniel Fernandez, CEO, TMC Community Capital
A Track Record of Impact
TMC Community Capital has scaled its reach, channeling capital where it counts most. Since 2020, TMC has deployed over $16 million of dollars in microloans to California small businesses — supporting job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and economic mobility in communities where opportunity has been too scarce for too long. Community Capital partners with hundreds of business support organizations across the state to fund entrepreneurs that are receiving technical assistance. By leveraging these local partnerships, TMC is able to ensure that it reaches those that need it most.
About Five Star Bank
Five Star Bank is a California-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Roseville, CA, with a mission to serve the financial needs of businesses, individuals, and communities throughout the region. Five Star Bank is committed to delivering trusted financial expertise alongside meaningful community investment. For more information, visit www.fivestarbank.com.
About TMC Community Capital
TMC Community Capital is transforming the microfinance landscape by addressing unmet needs and meeting small businesses where they are. As a nonprofit CDFI, TMC Community Capital is dedicated to leveling the financial playing field and empowering women-owned, low-income, and under-resourced small businesses in California. By driving financial equity, bridging the digital divide, and delivering an outstanding user experience, TMC Community Capital ensures these businesses have the resources they need to thrive.
www.tmccommunitycapital.org.