The work we do with credit unions allows them to make real differences in the lives of their members and communities. This could be through CDFI certification or grant writing, strategic planning, product design, partnership creation or any of our other many services. And as part of this work, we get to hear the wonderful member impact stories that illustrate what credit unions are doing to unlock opportunities in the communities they serve. We will be highlighting some of these stories here.
This story comes to us from Oswego County FCU in New York and is about a member who came to the credit union desperate to get her finances back on track after several years of struggling due to job changes and periods of unemployment.
The member had had loans with Oswego in the past, including one that she’d defaulted on. About a year later, she reached out to the credit union to ask if she could become a member again, expressing her dedication to improving her credit score. With the member's commitment to paying off her defaulted loan, the credit union reopened her account.
Leveraging the member's steady income, the Oswego offered her their “Share Purchase” loan. This allowed her to make monthly payments for six months into a savings account, creating a positive payment history that increased the member's credit score. Once the six payments were made, the funds become available to the member, and she used them to pay down some of her other debts. Oswego also offered her a low-limit credit card to help her continue to build her credit.
The member is currently working toward purchasing a home for her family, helped by a better understanding of her finances and the lower interest rates that the credit union was able to provide. Oswego County FCU believes in giving people second chances, especially those who are determined to get their finances back on track.
CDFI-certified credit unions have countless stories like these to share, and we’re proud to highlight a few from our clients.