Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Bonvenu Bank Award $25K Grant to The Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana

Funds Will Be Used for Financial Property Education

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), through its member Bonvenu Bank, awarded a $25,000 Heirs’ Property Program grant to the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana (Fuller Center) during a ceremonial check presentation this week. The funds will be used to assist low- to moderate-income families with resolving heirs’ property title issues such as wills, succession and education.

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Left to right: Michael Colston-Bonvenu Bank, Lee Jeter-Fuller Center, Erica McCain-Fuller Center and Jason Smith-Bonvenu Bank and Bruce Hatton-FHLB Dallas. (Photo: Business Wire)

“These funds will help us reach more people, efficiently search for property owners and make the succession process very simple,” said Fuller Center Executive Director Lee Jeter. “Most people in this income bracket don’t have the financial resources for these types of things, so anything we can do to make the process easier is extremely valuable.”

Heirs’ property refers to property inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. As property is passed down, each successive generation typically results in more heirs being added to the inheritance. The absence of a deed or will can make it more complicated to obtain a clear title to land or homes as time passes.

“Giving back and helping our community is a win-win situation,” said Michael Colston, vice president and community development officer at Bonvenu Bank. “Enabling new homeowners to retain their homes and keeping property in families builds generational wealth, and not only helps the families immensely, but also the community as a whole.”

In 2024, FHLB Dallas and 20 participating members awarded $2 million to 33 organizations in its five-state region. The funding will help clear an estimated 560 titles and assist more than 5,670 people with training and education regarding heirs’ issues.

“The Heirs’ Property Program funds have been highly sought-after,” said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “So much so that we’ve added an additional $1 million to our offering in 2025.”

Learn more about the FHLB Dallas Heirs’ Property Program.

About Bonvenu Bank

Bonvenu Bank is a community bank in Louisiana that offers a variety of banking services for individuals and businesses. Formerly Citizens National Bank, Bonvenu Bank was established in 1985, and has 14 full-service branch locations throughout Louisiana. Committed to offering an elevated banking experience, Bonvenu strives to build a prosperous future for the communities it serves. Bonvenu Bank has been a leading financial partner for businesses and individuals in Northwest Louisiana for 40 years.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $129.4 billion as of September 30, 2024, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

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