Case Study: Making a Difference, One Member at a TimePosted by Miriam De Dios Woodward on April 30, 2013 What follows is a case study excerpt from the Hispanic Opportunity Report developed as part of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ newly formed partnership with Coopera. With 80 percent of its members identifying themselves as Hispanic, First Imperial Credit Union (FICU) of El Centro, Calif., knows the importance of catering its products and services to serve the specific needs of this influential community. Headquartered in close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, El Centro is situated in the Imperial Valley, one of southern California’s larger agricultural communities, attracting field workers and laborers from Mexico. Because of the seasonal nature of Imperial Valley work, the region suffers a 28-percent unemployment rate and a history of financial instability. Financial institutions (FIs) tied to the long-standing practice of lending money based solely on credit scores have had trouble realizing the growth potential and revenue opportunities that can come from properly serving the Hispanic market. When now President and CEO Fidel Gonzalez joined FICU in 2009, he understood to successfully serve the local Hispanic population the credit union would need to change its lending philosophy. “Most Hispanics are in need of financial services, and they are frequently turned away from other FIs because of their credit scores and employment history,” said Gonzalez. “They need FIs who are willing to take a chance on them. So, FICU adopted a new lending structure allowing our credit union to place more emphasis on a member’s ability to pay moving forward, rather than on past delinquency.” To do this, Gonzalez worked closely with his staff and industry. First, the team altered the credit union’s practice of using a member’s credit score as an approval mechanism. Rather, Gonzalez encouraged his team to focus on the member’s employment status, working to approve loans for members with 12 months of work history and able to maintain their existing trade lines. The staff also reviewed an applicant member’s credit history to better understand other financial obligations and the types of loan applicant members could afford. Under the new lending structure, a member’s credit score became a pricing tool in the loan application process, rather than a deciding factor. According to Gonzalez, FICU today works with members to book a series of small loans, starting with $500 and working up to larger loans as credit improves. “We want members to be successful. So together we set realistic goals, loaning to them based on what they can afford,” said Gonzalez. “We impose credit limits to offset the risk, and we educate our loan recipients on the importance of paying — if they pay us, we’ll lend to them again. That’s a powerful motivator for our Hispanic members.” To supplement its loan-builder program, Gonzalez also instituted the Opportunity Checking program at FICU. The program is designed for any member who has been denied a checking account in the past because of account mismanagement or a Chex Systems record. The goal of the program is to re-establish members into normal financial services and encourage them to stop using check-cashing establishments that charge high fees for access to cash. Members open an Opportunity Checking account for $50 and are charged a $10 monthly maintenance fee to receive many of the advantages of a traditional checking account, including an ATM or debit card. The cards carry lower limits, but there is no minimum balance required and the accounts offer free home banking and bill pay. After 12 months, the Opportunity Checking account converts to a regular checking account that includes overdraft privilege, regular ATM and point-of-sale (POS) limits and other perks. “The feedback from our members has been extremely positive,” said Gonzalez. “Because many of our members get paid weekly, the monthly fee is small compared to the 3- to 5-percent check-cashing establishments typically charge. This program is a win-win — Hispanics are gaining access to the financial services they desperately need at prices they can afford and with terms they can meet, and the credit union is able to capture lending activity that would have been lost had we not created a relationship.” In the 18 months since Gonzalez and his team implemented these new programs, FICU opened 330 Opportunity Checking accounts and realized nearly $40,000 in fee income. The credit union also booked more than $1 million in loans and increased total net membership by 1,958 members, a 17-percent increase in a year and a half. For FICU, Gonzalez concluded that “Making a Difference, One Member at a Time” isn’t just a clever marketing slogan. Rather, it’s a true reflection of the credit union’s commitment to innovation – stepping up to provide fair, dignified and affordable services to a deserving group of influential members. Leave a commentReach Hispanics through Financial LiteracyPosted by AnnaPeña on April 23, 2013
With one out of two U.S. Hispanics being unbanked or underserved, your credit union has a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of Hispanic members. Coopera client Security One Federal Credit Union in Arlington, Texas, believes financial literacy efforts need to focus on the whole family’s financial needs. This begins by teaching children about saving and the advantages of holding a youth account and goes all the way through to helping parents understand how to improve credit scores or secure loans. Also, Security One works to educate business owners on the importance of budgeting expenses, filing taxes and preparing for audits. Business Development Coordinator Danny Garcia said, “At Security One, we are focused on growing the Hispanic community’s ability to be more financially independent. Through our assistance and guidance, individuals are able to better themselves financially, which makes the whole community stronger. We take a holistic approach, networking and partnering with schools and universities, churches, as well as community organizations, like libraries, medical centers and government agencies, to promote financial literacy and the credit union difference.” Some of the events Garcia and the team at Security One have participated in include: Garcia and the Security One team is also working closely with local groups to host an upcoming 4-day mobile event to help Hispanics secure the identification documents they need As with any new program, it’s important not to recreate the wheel when developing financial literacy initiatives. To get started, you can utilize resources and opportunities available through community partnerships, Coopera and other industry partners to supplement your programs. As Garcia and Security One have proved, networking and community involvement are vital in a credit union’s outreach efforts. Other resources readily available to your credit union include: El Poder es Tuyo Updates Hispanic Outreach Webinars International Credit Union Leadership Program The program is designed to facilitate idea exchanges, promote foreign language development, enhance cultural diversity and improve problem-solving skills as they relate to global credit union development and management. The program also focuses on helping credit unions find new ways to attract young members. – Apr. 7-May 11, 2013: Costa Rican participants intern in Alabama, Florida, Oregon or Washington Common Misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo & the Hispanic CulturePosted by AnnaPeña on April 16, 2013
Despite its reputation, Cinco de Mayo does not mark Mexico’s Independence Day. That is celebrated on September 16, the day in 1810 when Father Miguel Hidalgo took to his pulpit in Dolores, Querétaro, and urged his congregation to join him in efforts to overthrow the Spanish tyranny in Mexico. The celebration is also known in Mexico as El Grito de Dolores or “Cry of Dolores.” Cinco de Mayo is actually a regional holiday in Mexico, called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla, celebrating Mexico’s victory over the French on May 5, 1862, during the Battle of Puebla in the American Civil War. Although Cinco de Mayo is a big holiday in Puebla, it is actually celebrated more in the U.S. than it is in most of Mexico. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with parades and festivals that offer plenty of traditional Mexican food, cold beverages and music for participants. The holiday has really become more about celebrating the Mexican way of life than about remembering a battle that happened 150 years ago in Mexico. Just as there is a misconception about Cinco de Mayo, there are also common misconceptions about Hispanics and the Hispanic culture of which credit unions looking to better serve this market should be aware. These include: – All Hispanics are Mexican. “Hispanic” is a U.S. Census term often used to refer to people of Latin American and Spanish origin regardless of race. U.S. Hispanics have roots in 21 – All Hispanics are Catholic. About 62 percent of Hispanics are Catholic, but there is a growing conversion rate from Catholicism to other religions. In fact, the Mormon church recently reported the number of Spanish-speaking Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregations in the U.S. rose from 389 in 2000 to more than 760 at present. According to a Pew Hispanic survey, 83 percent of Hispanics claim a religious affiliation, and one in five (19 percent) say they are Protestant. Fourteen percent of Hispanics say that although they are religious, they are unaffiliated with a particular religion. –Hispanics speak several different forms of Spanish. While not all Hispanics speak Spanish, Spanish is the overarching language for many Latin American countries. According to Pew Research, more than 80 percent of Hispanic adults say they speak Spanish. Even though there are cultural nuances in the Spanish language, there are not completely different forms of the language in Latin American countries — the basic language structure of Spanish is shared. That said, there may be different colloquialisms or words, phrases or statements, unique to a certain culture or region. To best serve your local Hispanic community, it is important to learn the make-up of the local population. Coopera can help with a comprehensive market analysis. Rest assured, however, the basics of the Spanish language will be understood by your Hispanic members regardless of the Latin American country from which they hail. –All Hispanics are poor immigrants. Not all Hispanics are immigrants (foreign nationals born outside of the U.S.), and the U.S. Census Bureau reported that there were over 2.1 million Hispanics in the U.S. with personal income over $65,000 in 2011. Today, the U.S. Hispanic population is made up of multiple generations of people from different countries of origin, from different income levels and different life experiences. Each Hispanic in the U.S. today can claim his/her own characteristics, beliefs and behaviors. The Hispanic market in the U.S. is rapidly growing and changing, which presents important opportunities for credit unions that invest the time and resources in preparation for further expansion. One way to learn more, and to prepare your staff, is by investing in a resource like CUNA’s training-on-demand resource Hispanic Immigration Course. By becoming more familiar with the nuances of the Hispanic population, credit unions will be better positioned to provide for these members’ needs. Leave a commentVote for Morrow!Posted by Miriam De Dios Woodward on April 9, 2013 Please join us in voting for Warren Morrow, founder and late CEO of Coopera, to be the recipient of Credit Union Magazine’s 2013 “CU Hero of the Year” award. The four nominees for this year’s award exemplify the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” and have truly gone the extra mile to extend credit union service in their communities.
To learn more about Mr. Morrow, read A Man of Integrity, written by Mark Condon, CUNA’s Senior Vice President, Business and Consumer Publishing, as well as Credit Union Magazine’s recent article on Mr. Morrow “Latino CU Visionary Leaves Legacy.” Help us honor Mr. Morrow as “CU Hero of the Year,” CLICK HERE TO VOTE TODAY! No login needed. Voting is open until May 17. Please help us spread the word by sharing the message through your personal network and social media connections. Thank you! Leave a commentThe Importance of First-Hand Experience with the Cultures We ServePosted by AnnaPeña on April 2, 2013
Through my role as Client Account Coordinator at Coopera, I have had the great privilege of working with outstanding credit union professionals around the U.S. One of the greatest joys of my work is seeing someone learn, or having their eyes opened, through a new experience, especially when it includes insight into a different culture. Although each of us had a different experience in the Dominican Republic, we walked away with an overwhelming sense of thankfulness that we were given this opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture and participate in the our host families’ and credit unions’ daily activities. Time after time during this trip, I saw the eyes of my fellow travelers light up from something they learned or experienced. It is a Coopera best practice to participate in international exchange programs, such as this one, for these very reasons — because by better understanding the different cultures we serve, we can better help our clients serve their customers. It’s a win-win situation. Also, I have observed on so many occasions that first-hand experiences help us all grow professionally and personally, often in ways we can’t predict. After the recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I recognized the potential for more credit union professionals to participate in these types of international exchange programs. And here are 10 reasons why: 1. Exposure to new cultures and/or a deeper understanding of cultures 2. Enhance language skills and/or learn a new language 3. Learn credit union best practices to take back to home credit union 4. Share best practices with host credit union 5. Develop a global perspective on the credit union movement 6. Networking opportunities with credit union professionals around the U.S. 7. Develop sensitivity to other people from other cultures coming to the U.S. 8. Make lifetime friendships and memories 9. Personal and professional development 10. Take a risk and challenge yourself to think outside the box The World Council of Credit Unions has several upcoming opportunities to have international experience in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Brazil. Visit http://www.woccu.org/events for more information. For 13 days in January 2013, 11 young credit union professionals were selected to participate in the International Credit Union Leadership Program. This trip was made possible by a grant from the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizen Exchanges, and part of the larger U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program. Each was placed in a different credit union or credit union association across the Dominican Republic. From Iowa, Traci Stiles, Business Development Manager at Des Moines Metro Credit Union in Des Moines, Iowa, was placed at the newest credit union in the Dominican Republic, CoopOriental; Erin O’Hern, Compliance Attorney at PolicyWorks, was placed with COOPBUENO; Anna Peña, Client Account Coordinator at Coopera, was placed at COOPACRENE. Highlights from their experience have been shared in a series of blog posts. Leave a comment |
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