SEATTLE – Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union has opened a new branch in the Beacon Hill neighborhood to serve what is primarily a Hispanic community.
The new branch, in the new Plaza Roberto Maestas, is a mixed-use development designed to address needs in the Beacon Hill community, such as affordable housing, economic opportunities and job creation, early childhood development and education, and community gathering spaces, the credit union said.
“In 2005, SMCU opened our Rainier Avenue branch in the heart of one of the nation’s most diverse communities,” said Richard Romero, CEO of Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union. “Our January opening at Plaza Roberto Maestas represents another historical milestone for SMCU and our desire to help underserved populations in the Seattle area.”
SMCU said it has been active in the Hispanic community for many years and will continue to launch several new programs and services for Spanish-speaking members this year, including:
- SMCU has been designated a Juntos Avanzamos or “Together We Advance” financial institution by the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (the Federation). SMCU is the first credit union in Seattle and the second credit union in the state of Washington to be accepted into the program for its efforts to serve the Latino community.
- SMCU now offers online and printed resources in Spanish. Employees at SMCU represent many cultures and languages that mirror the communities it serves. SMCU said its consumer and home loan departments are fully staffed with fluent Spanish speakers.
- SMCU has partnered with the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to create a new Citizenship Loan to help new immigrants finance their path to U.S. citizenship. SMCU was onsite for the October and December workshops and will continue to have a supporting presence in the city’s ongoing program.
- SMCU participated with the Mexican Consulate and the Latino Educational Training Institute to present an eight-week financial education series from March through May of 2016.
- SMCU CEO Romero has served on the YearUp Leadership Council, the Federation of Community Development Credit Unions board of directors and the Leadership Eastside board of directors.