Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access
Over 80 years ago, Unitus was founded to help bridge the gap of providing financial resources for the underserved groups and communities in the Portland area. Today, we continue to grow that commitment to financial inclusion to all in our community.
Our DEIA Purpose Statement
Cooperative Principles
Each of the eight cooperative principles are a part of Unitus’ effort to better serve all community members:
- Voluntary Membership
- Democratic Member Control
- Members’ Economic Participation
- Autonomy and Independence
- Education, Training, and Information
- Cooperation Among Cooperatives
- Concern for Community
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access
Juntos Avanzamos
Unitus has been named a Juntos Avanzamos credit union. This special designation is awarded to credit unions committed to service and financial education aimed at Hispanic consumers by opening up the financial system with opportunities that respond to inclusion, and creating environments with possibilities for all.
Building Diverse Resources
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Bilingual member advocates
Spanish-speaking bilingual staff are available at all branch locations to assist members, including our Virtual Branch.
Appointments in Spanish are also available.
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Building a diverse workforce
We continue to examine and improve our recruiting and hiring processes, finding new ways to attract a more diverse workforce.
To help learn and build on our DEIA efforts, we offer monthly advocacy hours and have established an internal DEIA committee to examine the issues, provide education, and a voice for further progress.
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Increased accessibility
Unitus is committed to improving our website and digital banking accessibility for those visitors who are visually impaired.
Additionally, each branch location features accessible entrances, bathrooms, and wheelchair accessible areas for members to conduct their financial business.
Better Together
Building an inclusive environment is a team effort. Our events, volunteer opportunities, and employee resource groups, are open to all. At Unitus, it truly is a "One Team" mentality.
Cultivating diversity in the workplace
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups that aim to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the business strategy of the credit union. As we develop and grow diversity within the organization, our goal is to add additional groups for our employees. Current Employee Resource Groups include:
- Multicultural (Multiethnic) – strives to provide guidance and support for all employees of diverse backgrounds, heritage, and ethnicity.
- Emerging Leaders – is designed to engage, connect, and develop Unitus employees who are interested in leadership opportunities.
Our Makeup
We recognize the need for a diverse staff and we’re building a workforce that’s more diverse and stronger than ever. Cultivating diversity in the workplace is something we strive for each day and work to be intentional about in every instance.
- What are we doing to get there? We continuously evaluate the workplace experience, including all our policies and processes.
Accountability
We ensure decisions we make align with our shared values and our definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. This allows us to hold ourselves accountable as we aspire to build a more diverse company. We also understand it’s a journey, not a destination, which helps us learn from every opportunity.