SEATAC, Wash./TIGARD, Ore.–The Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) said it has entered into a formal partnership with the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions to promote the Juntos Avanzamos program among credit unions in the Northwest and to expand access to credit union services to the Hispanic community throughout the region.
The Juntos Avanzamos designation identifies financial cooperatives committed to providing affordable and responsible financial products and services that provide asset building opportunities for Hispanic and immigrant consumers.
Juntos Avanzamos was developed by the Texas Credit Union League as a Hispanic outreach program for credit unions. On September 22, 2015, The Federation announced the national expansion of the program in partnership with the Cornerstone Credit Union League and a growing number of state leagues and associations across the country, including the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, the Iowa Credit Union League, the Mountain West Credit Union Association, and now, the Northwest Credit Union Association, along with Coopera and the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals. Fifty credit unions in 12 states—Arizona, California, Colorado., Florida, Iowa, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Wash.—and the District of Columbia have earned the designation.
“We are excited and proud that Point West Credit Union has earned the Juntos Avanzamos designation,” said Troy Stang, NWCUA president and CEO, in a statement. “It’s a testament to their service to all communities—and particularly the noncitizen community. The Portland region is among the fastest growing in the country, and 15% of that population is coming from outside the United States. Finding ways to help those communities build financial strength is at the heart of the Credit Union Difference.”
Lower Valley Credit Union in Sunnyside, Wash., became the first Northwest credit union to earn the designation. Point West will become the second—and first in Oregon.