Since its formation in 1986, Southern has originated over $2 billion in development loans—primarily to individuals and organizations in the poorest areas of the United States. The $2 billion milestone is unmatched in rural development, but Southern considers it to be just the beginning. Southern understands that access to capital — both for rural institutions and for rural families — is critically important. However, we have found that even $2 billion of invested capital is insufficient to drive fundamental community change without such capital investments being focused into specific geographic areas and matched to comprehensive community engagement in education, housing, health care, leadership development and economic development. Southern is a unique organization that combines the vision, passion, and creativity of non-profit organizations with the stability and permanence of America’s largest and most profitable rural development bank.