Inclusiv Announces Expansion of the Juntos Avanzamos Network to 100 Credit Unions
New milestone celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Los Angeles, CA (September 18, 2019) - Today, I nclusiv announced the expansion of the Juntos Avanzamos network to 100 credit unions. This expansion reflects the credit union industry’s support for Juntos Avanzamos and financial inclusion. This new milestone was announced at Inclusiv’s 2019 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California and is part of Inclusiv's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Juntos Avanzamos has become the financial inclusion standard for Hispanics and immigrants within the credit union industry. Its system-wide adoption has opened the doors of financial opportunity for millions of underserved consumers across the United States, regardless of nationality or immigration status. Inclusiv is proud of this historic achievement, which is the result of the collective support of a coalition of league and industry partners committed to financial inclusion and to serving an increasingly diverse nation. We look forward to continue to champion inclusion throughout the industry and beyond,” said Pablo DeFilippi, SVP of Membership and Network Engagement at Inclusiv.
The credit unions most recently designated are Suncoast Credit Union , Guadalupe Centers Federal Credit Union , Idaho Central Credit Union , Financial Center First Credit Union and Cooperativa Jesús Obrero, expanding the program's principles of financial empowerment to an additional 1.3 million members in 5 states. The total network’s reach now extends to over 7 million consumers in 26 states, Washington D.C and Puerto Rico.<
"When the Cornerstone Credit Union League set about on this journey with Inclusiv to spread the reach of Juntos Avanzamos, we had hoped it would generate increased commitment by credit unions in serving a vital and vibrant Hispanic population in communities across the country. This milestone of reaching 100 Juntos Avanzamos designated credit unions is significant, resulting in fair and equitable financial services to countless new credit union members who have traditionally been underserved or entirely unbanked," said Jim Gorman, Senior Vice President for Communications and Outreach at the Cornerstone Credit Union League.
The growth of Juntos Avanzamos underlines the increased awareness within our movement of the importance of financial inclusion and the key role Hispanics and immigrants play in the nation’s economy. With the addition of these credit unions, the Juntos Avanzamos network has substantially expanded its reach and capacity to impact the Hispanic and immigrant communities in the United States.
"On behalf of the Illinois Credit Union League, I offer my congratulations to Inclusiv on hitting the outstanding milestone of 100 credit unions earning the Juntos Avanzamos designation! What a tremendous accomplishment for the Inclusiv team, participating credit unions, and members who have benefited over the years from financial products and services delivered in the language they speak and read. You have a right to be proud and celebrate the success of this program, which we look forward in the coming years to help you expand with the large and growing Spanish-speaking population in Illinois. You have done a terrific job spreading the word about this great underserved market and I look forward to celebrating the next 100 Juntos credit unions with you soon," said Tom Kane, President & CEO of the Illinois Credit Union League.
"We are thrilled with the growth of the Juntos Avanzamos program. The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues were one of the first leagues to officially support its national expansion. California now has the second largest concentration of Juntos Avanzamos credit unions in the country. It is a great framework for helping credit unions meet the needs of Hispanics in their communities and become the financial institution of choice for this incredibly important demographic. We commend Inclusiv for all its work with this program and encourage credit unions to apply for the designation," said Larry Palochik, Senior Vice President of Member Solutions at the California and Nevada Credit Union League.
Inclusiv and its Juntos Avanzamos League partners, the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and Affiliates , the Asociación de Ejecutivos de Cooperativas de Puerto Rico and the Northwest Credit Union Association , welcomes this new group of credit unions to the growing network of institutions committed to meeting the needs of Hispanic and immigrant consumers and their adoption of the Juntos Avanzamos framework of financial inclusion.
his new group of credit unions also includes Cooperativa Jes ú s Obrero, the first financial cooperative headquartered in Puerto Rico to receive the prestigious designation.
“We are proud that one of our members has become the first cooperativa in Puerto Rico to receive the Juntos Avanzamos designation. The cooperative movement has grown substantially after Hurricane María, a recognition of our commitment to underserved and vulnerable communities. There is a large immigrant population in Puerto Rico made up of thousands of Dominicans, as well as other nationalities. Jes ú s Obrero is leading the way for other cooperativas to expand their products and services for the immigrant population," said José Julián Ramírez, Executive Director of the Asociación de Ejecutivos de Cooperativas de Puerto Rico.
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Financial Center First Credit Union | Indianapolis, IN
J. Kevin Ryan, CEO | Members: 63,364| Assets: $ 571,274,923
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Guadalupe Centers Federal Credit Union| Kansas City, MO
Ismael Gallegos, CEO| Members: 1,593 | Assets: $3,532,836
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Idaho Central Credit Union | Chubbuck, ID | Kent Oram, CEO
Members: 365,879 | Assets: $4,529,366,466
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Cooperativa Jesús Obrero| Guaynabo, PR| Aurelio Arroyo, CEO
Members: 8,546 | Assets: $79,969,025
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Suncoast Credit Union | Tampa, Fl | Kevin D. Johnson, CEO
Members: 844,897 | Assets : $ 10,318,422,59 8
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Media Contact:
Clarissa Ritter
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
(212) 809-1850 x210
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About Inclusiv
At Inclusiv, we believe that true financial inclusion and empowerment is a fundamental right. We dedicate ourselves to closing the gaps and removing barriers to financial opportunities for people living in distressed and underserved communities. Inclusiv is a certified CDFI intermediary that transforms local progress into lasting national change. We provide capital, make connections, build capacity, develop innovative products and services and advocate for our member community development credit unions (CDCUs). Inclusiv members serve over 10 million residents of low-income urban, rural and reservation-based communities across the US and hold over $99 billion in community-controlled assets. Founded in 1974, Inclusiv is headquartered in New York, NY, with offices in Madison, WI and Atlanta, GA. For more information about Inclusiv visit us at Inclusiv.org . About Juntos Avanzamos
(“Together We Advance”) is a designation for credit unions committed to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers – helping them navigate the U.S. financial system and providing safe, affordable and relevant financial services. Juntos Avanzamos credit unions employ bilingual, culturally-competent staff and leadership, accept alternative forms of ID and treat all of their members with respect, regardless of immigration status. The Juntos Avanzamos network is growing quickly; it currently includes 100 credit unions in 26 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. See our partners below. Learn more about Juntos Avanzamos at www.juntosavanzamos.org .
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