LSCU Joins Juntos Avanzamos

New York, NY - (February 21, 2017) - The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) is pleased to announce that the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU) has joined the Federation and its partners in supporting Juntos Avanzamos (Together We Advance), a network of credit unions  committed to the empowerment of U.S. born and immigrant Hispanics. LSCU & Affiliates joins an influential group of industry experts  who understand that serving immigrants is a strategy for credit union growth and vital to fulfilling our collective goal of helping people of modest means achieve financial independence.

Juntos Avanzamos was developed by the Cornerstone Credit Union League as a Hispanic outreach program in Texas. Today, the Federation is leading the national expansion of Juntos Avanzamos in partnership with Coopera, the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals (NLCUP), Cornerstone Credit Union League, California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, Credit Union Association of New Mexico, Iowa Credit Union League, Mountain West Credit Union Association, and Northwest Credit Union Association.

The network of Juntos Avanzamos credit unions now numbers 70, with Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union celebrating their designation earlier this month. To receive the Juntos Avanzamos designation, credit unions must demonstrate a strategic plan for improving service to Hispanics, offer bilingual services and information, collaborate with community organizations that support Hispanics, offer affordable products and services relevant to the immigrant consumer, and offer financial education in Spanish and English.

"Joining this important movement advances the 'people helping people' philosophy that is the foundation of credit unions," said LSCU president/CEO Patrick La Pine. "This program unites us in helping an underserved part of our population to establish themselves financially. It's a win-win for everyone, including our league, our credit unions, and our expanding membership."

"Hispanic immigrants contribute to our local economies by paying taxes, establishing small businesses and creating jobs. With their tradition of service, credit unions can help unbanked and underbanked Hispanic consumers build assets toward a more secure economic future for themselves and all Americans," said Pablo DeFilippi, Federation senior vice president of membership and network engagement. "Plus credit unions that are investing in serving their Hispanic communities are reporting faster loan and membership growth."

Visit www.inclusiv.org/initiatives/juntos-avanzamos-together-we-advance/ if you are interested in becoming a Juntos Avanzamos credit union. If you want to support Juntos Avanzamos, please contact Pablo DeFilippi at pablo@inclusiv.org, to learn more.

The League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates represents 261 credit unions in Alabama and Florida with a combined total of $76 billion in assets and more than 7 million members. LSCU & Affiliates provides advocacy and regulatory information; education and training; cooperative initiatives (including financial education outreach); media relations and information; and business solutions. For more information, visit www.lscu.coop. Follow the League on Twitter at twitter.com/LeagueofSECUs or Facebook.

The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions is a certified CDFI Intermediary representing community development credit unions (CDCUs). The Federation's member CDCUs provide credit, savings, transaction services and financial education to over 6 million residents of low-income urban, rural and reservation-based communities across the US, and hold over $60 billion in community-controlled assets. Founded in 1974, the Federation is headquartered in Lower Manhattan with offices in Madison, WI. The Federation offers a wide range of advocacy, educational, training, investment, marketing, and outreach programs to support and assist CDCUs. For more information about the Federation and its programs, please visit www.inclusiv.org.

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