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Akiptan (AH-KEEP-TAHN) is the Lakota word for together, in a joint effort, cooperatively.

Akiptan's mission is to transform Native agriculture and food economies

by delivering creative capital, leading paradigm changes, and

enhancing producer prosperity across Indian Country.

ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

Akiptan is a Native American Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides loans and technical assistance to those in Native Agriculture.

 

Akiptan offers a whole suite of services that include financing youth, start ups, operating costs and ownership.

Our CDFI takes it a step further and works with the client to assist with technical support as well as provide financial literacy training to help create a knowledgeable borrower.

Akiptan continues to have a record demand of applications and while this means that our style of financing and technical assistance is needed, it is also generating a longer waiting period during the application process. However, our staff is doing the best that they can to process all applications in a timely manner, while also making sure that borrowers continue to receive proper technical assistance and beneficial financing. Please know that the timeline is currently a few months out from application submission to the Loan Committee for review. If you have concerns about the timeline of your application, please reach out to your loan officer or email us at info@akiptan.org.

YOUTH LOAN & INVESTMENT

Native Youth are able to get a Loan or Investment through Akiptan that allows for the younger generations to start to grow their agriculture Operation.

GENERAL LOAN & INVESTMENT

The Ownership

and Operating Loan/Investment allows for operators to borrow up to $100,000 in order to build capacity for their operation. 

SUCCESS
STORIES

Read about the successes of our clients and how they've been able to set themselves up for financial security.

LOAN VS INVESTMENT

Akiptan, being a Native CDFI, has the unique ability to develop loan programs that can truly benefit Natives in agriculture. Akiptan is able to provide a traditional loan where a certain amount of money is borrowed and repaid back over several years. But, Akiptan is also able to provide a loan that allows for upfront capacity growth by “Investing” in your operation with an interest only payment option for several years before repaying the principal. This is what Akiptan calls the "Interest Only Option."​

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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Akiptan provides ongoing technical assistance to clients throughout the loan process so that client's can be successful in their operations. Technical assistance takes the business relationship far beyond just a lender and a borrower. With the technical assistance, the lender is not only providing financial advice, but also learning how the client operates. The borrower is not just receiving funds, but also learning on how he/she/they can diversify their operation and/or learn how to do things differently.

 “There’s no way we’d be able to do what we did without Akiptan, there’s something to be said about their customer service, in addition to the financial support. You can get real feedback about your ideas in an honest way, and they check in with you throughout the year because they care about your success”-  Justine Kougl - Montana Ranch Beef

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