Southern Nevada’s Exclusive Leader: How Clark County Credit Union is Pioneering SBA 504 Lending Success

Clark County Credit Union (CCCU) has achieved a significant milestone in the commercial lending space, becoming the only credit union in Southern Nevada to receive recognition in the 2024 Nevada SBA 504 Third Party Lender of the Year Awards. The credit union’s Commercial Lending Team secured fourth place in these prestigious awards, demonstrating their commitment to supporting local business growth through specialized lending programs.

Award Recognition Highlights Community-Focused Lending Approach

On May 15, 2025, CCCU announced this achievement, which positions them among the top financial institutions supporting small businesses in Nevada. This recognition comes as the credit union continues to expand its commercial lending portfolio with a focus on community-based financing solutions.

Chris Schlaffman, CCCU’s Vice President of Commercial Lending Manager, expressed pride in the team’s accomplishment, stating, “Our team is dedicated to helping local businesses grow. This award is an honor and a testament to the strong relationships we’ve built across the Las Vegas Valley.”

The announcement was initially shared on the credit union’s social media platforms, where CCCU celebrated the team’s success days before the official press release. The award specifically recognizes CCCU’s performance in facilitating SBA 504 loans, an important financing vehicle for small businesses looking to make substantial capital investments.

Understanding the SBA 504 Loan Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program represents a vital financing option for small businesses seeking to acquire major fixed assets. These loans provide long-term, fixed-rate financing specifically designed for purchasing commercial real estate, equipment, or making other significant capital investments.

SBA 504 loans have become increasingly popular among small business owners due to their favorable terms and accessibility. The program typically features lower down payments than conventional commercial loans, which helps preserve working capital for businesses—a crucial advantage for growing enterprises.

For credit unions like CCCU, participation in this program allows them to serve their business members with government-backed financing options that might otherwise be unavailable through traditional lending channels. The structure of these loans often involves partnership between a certified development company (CDC), a third-party lender like CCCU, and the small business borrower.

CCCU’s Competitive Edge in Commercial Lending

What sets CCCU apart in the commercial lending landscape is its community-focused approach. Unlike larger financial institutions with centralized decision-making processes, CCCU emphasizes local decision-making and personalized service tailored to each business’s unique circumstances.

This localized approach provides several advantages for Southern Nevada businesses. Loan decisions are made by professionals who understand the local market dynamics, approval processes can move more quickly, and the terms can be more flexible to accommodate specific business needs.

The credit union’s not-for-profit structure further enhances its ability to offer competitive rates and favorable terms compared to many for-profit financial institutions. This structural advantage allows CCCU to focus primarily on member benefit rather than shareholder returns—a fundamental difference that often translates to more affordable financing options.

Impact on Southern Nevada’s Small Business Community

For credit union executives nationwide, CCCU’s achievement demonstrates the potential for credit unions to make significant inroads in commercial lending markets traditionally dominated by larger banks. The SBA 504 program specifically represents an opportunity to support local economic development while building strong relationships with business members.

Small businesses represent the backbone of local economies, and access to capital remains one of their most persistent challenges. By specializing in SBA 504 loans, CCCU positions itself as an important resource for entrepreneurs looking to establish or expand their physical presence through real estate acquisition or major equipment purchases.

The recognition from the SBA validates CCCU’s strategy of focusing on this specific lending niche and suggests potential opportunities for other credit unions considering similar specialization in commercial lending programs.

Looking Forward: Growth Opportunities in Commercial Lending

As CCCU continues to build its commercial lending portfolio, this recognition may serve as a catalyst for further growth in the business services segment. For a credit union with $1.5 billion in assets serving over 57,000 members, commercial lending represents an important diversification strategy beyond consumer financial products.

The credit union’s commercial lending team remains focused on supporting Nevada’s small business community through a combination of SBA-backed programs and conventional business loans. Their approach emphasizes relationship building and local economic development—core credit union principles that translate well to the commercial space.

For credit union executives considering similar expansions into commercial lending, CCCU’s experience highlights the importance of developing specialized expertise in government-backed lending programs and maintaining a community-focused approach that leverages the credit union difference.

Businesses interested in learning more about CCCU’s commercial lending options, including SBA 504 loans, can reach out to the credit union’s dedicated commercial lending team for personalized guidance on financing solutions tailored to their specific needs.