Rio Grande Credit Union Becomes First Juntos Avanzamos CU in New Mexico
Monday, December 14, at Rio Grande Credit Union – 301 Rio Bravo Blvd SE – 10:00am
Albuquerque, NM – Leaders from the Federation of Community Development Credit Unions and the Cornerstone Credit Union League will present Rio Grande Credit Union with the Juntos Avanzamos designation for their continued history of outreach to Albuquerque’s Hispanic community. Also scheduled to participate in this Proclamation Ceremony are US Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, NM Senator Michael Padilla, and Bernalillo Commissioner Art de la Cruz.
The Juntos Avanzamos (meaning “Together we Advance”) designation was developed to formally recognize those credit unions throughout the country that have a history of serving the underserved, increasing members’ financial literacy, and providing products and services that provide a better alternative to payday lenders and cash advance storefronts. As the Albuquerque Journal noted this past September, over 1 in 3 Albuquerque residents are unbanked, this designation recognizes the efforts of Rio Grande Credit Union to introduce this population to a helpful part of the American financial system.
Ona Porter, Executive Director of Prosperity Works remarked, “First [Rio Grande Credit Union] gave us everything we needed to open Prosperity KidsTM accounts for more than 500 children and emergency accounts for their parents. Then they sought and received a "low income" designation, and then became a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) allowing them to provide products and services on different terms than they previously could. And NOW a Juntos Avanzamos designation declaring their continued dedication to serve the Hispanic community! When we ask our partners to act within their previews of power to remove barriers and create pathways to economic security, opportunity abounds!”
Pictured raising the Juntos Avanzamos flag are:
• Chris Fitzgerald, President/CEO Rio Grande Credit Union
• Lucy Sedillo, Board Chairperson at Rio Grande Credit Union
• Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham
• Pablo DeFilippi, VP Membership at National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
Bill Daily, VP Marketing & Member Experience
Rio Grande Credit Union
bdaily@riograndecu.org
O: 505-346-4675
C: 505-235-0174
About Rio Grande Credit Union
Rio Grande Credit Union is a not for profit financial institution started by the City of Albuquerque employees over 60 years ago. Rio Grande Credit Union operates 5 branches throughout Albuquerque and holds over $270MM in assets. The credit union was recently recognized as one of two of the healthiest financial institutions in New Mexico according to depositaccounts.com. Anyone living or working in Bernalillo or Sandoval county may join.
About Juntos Avanzamos
Originally launched in 2005 as an immigrant outreach program, the Juntos Avanzamos program was designed to help credit unions attract and serve the growing Hispanic market in Texas. Now through a partnership with the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, Juntos Avanzamos has a national reach. There are now over 40 Juntos Avanzamos designated credit unions in the country.