HelloBello® is a technology platform that connects community banks, credit unions, and economic development organizations with funding resources to support small businesses and entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional loans.
Many lenders are unaware of available risk-mitigating resources like loan guarantee programs, grant funding, impact investors, and credit enhancements. These valuable programs remain significantly underutilized.
In 2015, employees of First Southwest Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), created a mission-aligned nonprofit to provide equitable access to gap funding sources and credit enhancements. As demand grew, this vision evolved into HelloBello®.
First Southwest Bancorporation, Inc., a CDFI and owner of First Southwest Bank, co-founded HelloBello Financial as a turnkey software platform that integrates funding resource connections directly into bank application workflows.
An 18-month Proof of Concept Pilot Program demonstrated the model's effectiveness: the first regional hub funded 52 borrowers totaling $24.2 million in projects that would have been traditionally denied capital access.
Following this successful proof of concept, HelloBello® was officially founded in 2022 by leading financial executives and launched in June 2024. The platform is now scaling nationwide to remove barriers to capital access while creating lasting economic impact in communities across the country.