Black Dragon Capital℠ and Redwood Credit Union Form New Strategic Alliance Dedicated to Exploring New Technologies

Louis Hernandez, Jr.

Multi-phased investment firm Black Dragon Capital℠ ("Black Dragon"), a multi-phased global investment partner that focuses on advanced technology that address the most significant issues industries face, has formed a new strategic partnership with Redwood Credit Union ("RCU").

Black Dragon Capital℠ was founded over a decade ago by recognized financial technology leaders focused on bringing innovative technologies to high-growth industry segments affected by digital disruption. The firm is led by a collaborative team that combines deep operational experience with a focus on community impact and a proven ability to transform and grow companies.
​
Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution that provides personal and business banking services to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco areas. With a mission to passionately serve the best interests of its members, RCU offers various options to save and build money through checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, digital banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, and more. RCU has more than $9.1 billion in assets and serves more than 500,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah.

Redwood Credit Union decided to begin a strategic alliance with Black Dragon Capital℠ after an intensive due diligence process influenced by the tenured roster of finance, technology, and credit union experts leading the team at Black Dragon. As a high-performing organization, RCU recognized the value in the Black Dragon team's deep domain expertise and ability to transform companies. Redwood Credit Union determined that a firm led by prominent members of the fintech and credit union communities would be the ideal partner in pursuing their goal of finding solutions that can empower credit unions and their members amidst the significant business and competitive issues created by the ongoing digitization of financial services.¹

Through this collaboration, Black Dragon Capital℠ and Redwood Credit Union aim to create and scale financial technology companies that will empower credit unions to transform their businesses and optimize their member service advantages.

Redwood Credit Union joins a growing list of the most innovative Credit Unions and CUSOs in the industry who have partnered with Black Dragon Capital℠ to reshape the future of our community. They will work with the Black Dragon Capital℠ team to leverage the firm's global reach and expertise in industry-defining technologies, pursuing the main objective of launching sustainable fintech companies dedicated to empowering credit unions to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

"Technology is constantly changing the world, and credit unions must take the initiative to explore new solutions so that we can continue providing the best financial services to our members. With the financial well-being of our members in mind, we are eager to collaborate with the Black Dragon team to pursue innovative technologies that can address the specific needs of our industry," said Brett Martinez, President and CEO of Redwood Credit Union.

Black Dragon Capital℠ strongly believes that experienced leadership teams know how to serve the community best. Their commitment to transforming the vendor partnership landscape means they have assembled a roster of proven fintech and credit union leaders who can leverage their years of expertise in creating sustainable businesses that benefit the community.

The firm is led by award-winning entrepreneur, successful operating executive, investor, philanthropist, and author Louis Hernandez, Jr., who is the visionary behind the transformation of recognized technology companies such as Open Solutions and Payveris.

The Black Dragon Capital℠ team's insights on operations, combined with their deep experience in cutting-edge technology, puts them in a place to deliver competitive advantages for their portfolio companies and founders. Through intensive research on competitors and markets, they have refined their expertise in identifying scalable solutions and helping founders accelerate growth by cutting through the competition.
​
"We are thrilled to be working with the future-forward team at RCU, who shares our deep commitment to continue supporting the people behind the credit union movement and the members they serve. Strategic partnerships like this are our way of connecting credit unions with tenured fintech professionals who know what they're doing and have been able to transform companies time and again," said Louis Hernandez Jr., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Black Dragon Capital.

---