The country’s largest Indigenous-owned and -led bank is planning the issuance, which could expand its capital by as much as 50 per cent, for later this year. (Bloomberg)

Talking point: Established in 1996, Saskatoon-based First Nations Bank’s mandate is to improve the economic well-being of Indigenous people in Canada, who face historic barriers to accessing financing. They are increasingly a major force in the world of finance and business, however. Last week’s federal budget included $5 billion in potential loan guarantees to help First Nations take equity stakes in major projects. First Nations Bank CEO Bill Lomax told Bloomberg he hopes the bank will play a role in the program. The bank is about 86 per cent owned by First Nations, with TD holding most of the remainder. It aims to increase the percentage owned by Indigenous shareholders through the equity raise.