LOS ANGELES–Inclusiv has announced its Juntos Avanzamos network has now grown to 100 credit unions.
The organization, which made the announcement during its annual conference here, said the expansion reflects the credit union industry’s support for Juntos Avanzamos and financial inclusion, and is part of its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“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,” Inclusiv stated. “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.”
The Most Recent Additions
The credit unions most recently designated as Juntos Avanzamos, which means “Together We advance,” are Suncoast CU, Guadalupe Centers FCU, Idaho Central CU, Financial Center FCU and Cooperative Jesus Obrero, and their addition expands the program's principles of financial empowerment to an additional 1.3 million members in five states. The total network’s reach now extends to over seven million consumers in 26 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, Inclusiv said.
Cooperativa Jesús Obrero is the first financial cooperative headquartered in Puerto Rico to receive the designation.
“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,” said Pablo DeFilippi, SVP of membership and network engagement at Inclusiv. “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.”
Other Viewpoints
Others offering comment on the milestone include:
- "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, SVP-communications and outreach at the Cornerstone Credit Union League in Texas.
- "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 and 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, SVP-member solutions at the California and Nevada Credit Union League.
- “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. Jesús 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.