DURHAM, N.C. – March 23, 2026 – M&F Bank, North Carolina’s only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and minority-owned bank, awarded $10,000 to Sherrill’s University through its Empowering Growth Small Business Grant. The Raleigh business provides vocational and entrepreneurial training focused on cosmetology, barbering, natural hair care, and instructor training. The award was made possible through the bank’s ongoing partnership with Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions.
“At M&F Bank, our mission has always been rooted in service—and the Empowering Growth Small Business Grant is a meaningful extension of that commitment,” said Caroline Taylor, senior vice president and chief lending officer at M&F Bank. “By investing in entrepreneurs, we’re not just supporting individual businesses—we’re fueling broader economic opportunity.
After all, when small businesses grow, communities thrive.”
The recent grant marks the final of five $10,000 awards M&F Bank distributed as part of its 2025 grant cycle, bringing the total to more than $100,000 granted since the program’s inception in 2024. Through this initiative, the bank is advancing its mission to spur economic development, expand access to capital, and uplift entrepreneurs across North Carolina.
Interestingly, more than seventy percent of grant recipients have been female business owners, including Sherril’s University, whose mission is to address workforce gaps and economic inequities, the school provides hands-on trade education, professional development, and career pathways for youth, adults and second-career learners. The business serves diverse populations, including rural residents, low-income individuals, and those seeking alternative pathways to traditional college education. The company will use the grant to strengthen operational capacity and expand educational impact.
“Raleigh is a growing city filled with opportunity, and I want to make sure that people in our community have access to career pathways through trade education,” said Wanda Short, owner of Sherril’s University. “My commitment has always been the same — to provide training that helps individuals build independence, confidence and entrepreneurship right here in Raleigh.”
As a grant recipient, the company will gain access to a coordinated ecosystem of supportive business tools, trainings, and networking opportunities. It will receive a dedicated M&F Bank business banker to provide personalized guidance, expert advice, and tailored financial solutions as well as Chambers of Commerce memberships and complimentary technology from Clover, the world’s smartest point-of-sale system and business management platform.
“Commerce has the power to move the world forward—to uplift communities, drive economies, and transform lives. We’re committed to ensuring that all businesses, large and small, can be part of this force that propels us toward the future we all envision together,” said Neil Wilcox, head of corporate social responsibility at Fiserv. “M&F Bank’s mission to serve underrepresented people and communities aligns well with our efforts to support small businesses and make a meaningful impact.”
