Texas CRA Programs: Community Development for the Military

LMI Support for Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses Through Financial Education

Texas hosts one of the nation’s largest military and Veteran populations, with active duty service members, military families, and Veterans distributed across major installations and metropolitan areas. Through GoVA Foundation’s CRA-qualified programs, banks can provide financial education to LMI military households throughout Texas assessment areas.

Military Presence in Texas

Texas maintains a significant military footprint through nine major installations and additional smaller bases, from Fort Bliss in El Paso to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi along the Gulf Coast. The state’s total active-duty military population stands at 173,965 service members, with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) serving as the largest concentration, supporting 80,000 active-duty personnel across its Lackland, Randolph, and Sam Houston locations. 

Major military installations and their active-duty populations include: 

  • Joint Base San Antonio (San Antonio) – 80,000 active duty 
  • Fort Cavazos (Killeen) – 33,829 active duty 
  • Fort Bliss (El Paso) – 32,598 active duty 
  • Dyess Air Force Base (Abilene) – 4,151 active duty 
  • Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth – 4,775 active duty 
  • Naval Air Station Corpus Christi – 2,836 active duty 
  • Sheppard Air Force Base (Wichita Falls) – 1,967 active duty 
  • Laughlin Air Force Base (Del Rio) – 1,309 active duty 
  • Goodfellow Air Force Base (San Angelo) – 12,500 total population 

Approximately 40% of active-duty military households qualify as low-to-moderate income (LMI), representing nearly 69,586 service members across Texas installations. Additionally, the state hosts an estimated 86,982 military spouses, calculated as 50% of the active-duty population, many of whom face employment challenges that impact household income.

Total Military Community Impact in Texas

Membership to The Edge is open to service members, Veterans, and their spouses. The combined military community in Texas represents a remarkable demographic presence: 

  • 173,965 active-duty service members 
  • 86,982 military spouses 
  • 1,534,356 Veterans 

This total military-connected population of 1,795,303 Texans represents a significant opportunity for banks to expand their services while meeting CRA obligations. The concentration of these communities near military installations creates natural assessment areas where banks can make meaningful impact through targeted financial education and services. 

Supporting Texas Veterans Through Community Development

Within Texas’s Veteran population of over 1.5 million, approximately 306,871 veterans qualify as LMI households. The highest concentrations of Veterans are found in Harris, Bexar, Tarrant, Dallas, and Bell counties, creating distinct opportunities for bank partnerships in these assessment areas. 

GoVA Foundation currently has verified-LMI members ready to sponsor in these counties. Complete the form at the bottom of the page for more details.

CRA Qualification for Community Development Investment Grants

The military community presents unique opportunities for banks to fulfill their CRA obligations while serving an important demographic. GoVA Foundation’s financial education programs have been reviewed and approved by the FDIC and OCC. We meet regulatory standards not only for adult education, but also for CRA documentation. Our programs satisfy key CRA requirements through: 

  1. Geographic CRA Qualification: 
  • Documented service to LMI census tracts near military installations 
  • Verified residence data for each program participant 
  • Assessment area alignment with bank service territories

2. Community Development Activities: 

  • Financial education tailored to military life cycles 
  • Targeted support for military-to-civilian transition 
  • Small business development for Veteran entrepreneurs 
  • Housing counseling for VA loan utilization 

Financial Education Impact in Texas Military Communities

The Edge platform currently serves over 440 active members across Texas, with 15% verified as LMI households. Our highest membership concentrations align with major military populations in Harris, Bexar, Tarrant, Dallas, and El Paso counties. These members receive targeted financial education addressing: 

  • Transition planning for separating service members 
  • Spouse employment and family budgeting 
  • VA home loan education and housing decisions 
  • Small business development for veterans 
  • Credit building and debt management 
  • Investment and retirement planning 
  • Emergency savings strategies for military families 
  • PCS (Permanent Change of Station) financial preparation 

These resources are freely available to qualified LMI members, supported by Community Development grants from our banking partners. 

Partner with GoVA Foundation in Texas

Banks operating in Texas can leverage our established presence to meet CRA goals while making meaningful impact in military communities. We provide complete documentation for CRA reporting, including: 

  • Verified LMI status of program participants 
  • Census tract confirmation 
  • Impact metrics and outcomes 
  • Assessment area alignment 
  • Quarterly progress reports 
  • Annual impact assessments 

Discover immediate opportunities to support LMI military households in your assessment area. Our custom reports provide detailed analysis of military demographics, LMI verification, and potential Community Development impact through financial education programs. 

Explore CRA Opportunities

Discover the impact potential for your bank’s Community Development initiatives. Our customized report reveals:

  • Number of military households in your assessment area
  • Financial education needs assessment
  • Specific opportunities for LMI community investment

Simply share your assessment area, and we’ll prepare a custom report showing how your bank can support military financial wellness while meeting CRA objectives.

About Our Partnership with TowneBank Mortgage

At GoVA, we’re proud to partner with a lender that delivers peace of mind to those who have served and continue to serve our county. Together, GoVA and TowneBank Mortgage are committed to helping our military service members achieve their dreams of homeownership, as well as providing them with valuable resources along the way. As experienced lenders, TowneBank Mortgage understands the need for a quick and easy mortgage process, especially during life’s transitional moments. Headquartered in Norfolk, just miles from the world’s largest naval base, TowneBank Mortgage has had the honor of helping thousands of military families through their VA loan offerings. Their team is knowledgeable about VA products and the local market, and in-house operations allow them to respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. Together, we can get you to closing in 30 days or less. Trust TowneBank Mortgage and GoVA loans to get you home.

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