Hispanic Heritage Month
(3 Minute Read) — As Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off, we are celebrating the generations of Hispanic and Latinos that through social, cultural, and economic contributions have enriched our communities.
At Unitus, we are excited to continue to offer and improve on the products and support to our Hispanic community.
Juntos Avanzamos Designation
This year we are excited to announce that our dedication to making our communities stronger has guided us towards a special designation. Unitus has been named a Juntos Avanzamos credit union. This independent designation is awarded to credit unions that have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity for a better financial future, and we are committed to understanding barriers to financial services. This designation is an important milestone bringing us one step closer to building trust as a financial partner for all communities,” stated Steve Stapp, Unitus President/CEO.
Some of the steps to get to this designation included work we had already been doing, as well as new products, services, and partnerships.
Communication is Key
Communication is very important when it comes to financial decisions, which is why Unitus employs multilingual staff at all twelve branch locations and the contact center. You can schedule an appointment to meet with a member advocate and be helped in your language.
Inclusive Practices
We have implemented inclusive practices for banking, like ITIN lending. This includes credit cards and auto loans among others like our immigration loan, and even mortgage lending. Making the dream of owning a home a possibility for all regardless of immigration status.
We understand the value of family and the cultural responsibility to care for our elders and those who need it, so we’ve partnered with Remitly to send money abroad. Remitly is a secure money transfer provider that is registered Money Service Business. It is low cost and transfers can be set up online or through the Remitly mobile app, saving members time and money, and allowing them to send money to loved ones around the world.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity for a better financial future, and we are committed to understanding barriers to financial services.”
— Steve Stapp, Unitus President/CEO
Community Partnerships
The most important part of our work to support the Hispanic community is how we give back and connect. We have partnered with organizations that dedicated to creating stronger communities to live, work, and play in. We are business members of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and will be sponsoring their Pathways to Scholarship program. We are proud to be partners with:
Our partnership with the consulate allowed us to be a part of their Binational Financial Education week earlier this month.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
The work Unitus and its partners has done to create more opportunities and equity in our communities deserves to be celebrated, which is why Unitus will be hosting an outdoor Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, at the Unitus Plaza in Downtown Portland.
This will celebrate both the food, music, and culture of our Hispanic Latinx community and our recent designation as a Juntos Avanzamos credit union, a feat that usually takes five years to accomplish, but Unitus worked diligently to receive this certification in just two years.
About the author: Berenice Garcia Hernandez
Berenice Garcia Hernandez is a member advocate and bilingual financial education specialist at Unitus Community Credit Union. She has been with Unitus since 2019 and has a combined seven years working in education and financial services.
She is a proud first generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Oregon. Her experience working with both banks and credit unions has made her passionate about making financial education accessible to all.
When she is not promoting financial wellness and education, she enjoys caring for her house plants, visiting her family, and trying out new recipes.
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