BOSTON–City of Boston Credit Union is participating with the city in the Boston Tax Help Coalition’s 2018 Tax Season, including helping people to open checking accounts on-site at tax preparation locations.
A kick-off event was hosted at the Codman Square Health Center Great Hall in Dorchester, Mass., one of the busiest tax sites in Boston, according to the Cooperative Credit Union Association. The Coalition offers free tax preparation at 35 locations for low to moderate income Boston residents to obtain the fairest tax refund possible, the CCUA said.
“As part of a collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment and the Bank on Boston Coalition, City of Boston Credit Union will be on hand at the Codman Square tax site piloting a program to open new savings and checking accounts on-site for residents before completing their tax filing,” the CCUA reported. “This joint effort will offer those residents that are unbanked or underbanked an opportunity to have their refund directly deposited into their new account with the hope of establishing a vehicle for future savings. The Bank on Boston Coalition is comprised of several City departments and financial institutions in the Boston area. City of Boston Credit Union is currently the only active credit union member of the coalition.”
City of Boston Credit Union CEO/President Dan Waltz said that 20% of residents who have taken part in the free tax preparation service in prior years admitted to not having a bank account.”