Pathway Lending Names Richard Bird as Chief Financial Officer

Finance Executive Enhances Pathway Lending’s Strategic Vision and Fiscal Leadership

Pathway Lending, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) as designated by the U.S. Treasury Department, has announced Richard Bird as chief financial officer, following former CFO, Barbara Harris’ retirement.

Bird brings a wealth of financial leadership and expertise to his new role as chief financial officer at Pathway Lending. With a career spanning four decades, Bird joined Pathway Lending in September 2018 as senior vice president of finance. Bird was promoted to chief accounting officer in April 2023, assuming responsibility for Pathway’s finance and accounting systems and processes in close collaboration with the CFO.

“Richard assumes the chief financial officer role with an immense knowledge of Pathway and the communities and clients we serve, plus leadership experience in both financial and operational roles,” said Pathway Lending president and CEO, Clint Gwin. “He has been an instrumental part of Pathway’s success, and we’re honored to have his continued dedication to serve our mission as we begin our 25th year of serving communities and small businesses across Tennessee.

Prior to joining Pathway, Bird began his career in internal audit at Bank of America. After 15 years, he moved into corporate accounting and compliance at various regional banks, including Synovus where he was the director of finance for the Tennessee region. He then joined Franklin Synergy Bank in 2013 as the corporate risk officer where he also served as SVP of finance.

“My time with Pathway thus far has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m honored and excited for this opportunity,” said Bird. “Embracing my new role as chief financial officer, I am committed to aligning our financial strategies with our mission to propel us toward deeper impact and success.”

Richard received his bachelor of arts degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Rhodes College in Memphis. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs. He has served on the boards of both the Tennessee Conservation Voters and Nashville CARES as treasurer.

Pathway Lending closed 2023 with $180 million in loans outstanding and total assets surpassing $335 million. In 2023 alone, Pathway originated $59.8MM in loans.

About Pathway Lending

Pathway Lending is a Nashville-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that propels economic growth in under-resourced communities. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, Pathway has generated more than $1 billion in economic impact to become a leading community-focused lender in the Southeast. Through its lending and advisory programs, Pathway has financed over 1,500 businesses, delivering more than $525 million in direct lending through its small business, affordable housing, and climate-related loan funds. These efforts have supported more than 30,000 jobs, created 2,400 affordable housing units, and generated $9.8MM in annual energy cost savings.

To learn more about the entrepreneurs and communities that Pathway Lending serves, visit PathwayLending.org.