Real Solutions - A National Credit Union Foundation Program

The Community Reinvestment Initiative supports the Michigan Credit Union League’s advocacy efforts through the CRI Report. The report is compiled each year using data from the CRI Survey and outside sources. Distributed to lawmakers during the CUNA GAC and throughout the year, the CRI Report contains information that demonstrates the good work credit unions do in their communities and further promotes the credit union tax exemption.

The Credit Union Association of New York’s 2012 MORE Report is now available online and in print, providing credit unions with a powerful tool for advocating and building awareness. The report highlights New York credit unions’ efforts in seven key categories: adult financial education; community investment and outreach; customized products and services; financial counseling; immigrant outreach; Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA); and youth financial education.

From the Wisconsin Credit Union League – Wisconsin credit union members saved close to $1 billion since the start of the Great Recession in 2007 through competitive rates on savings and loans and lower and fewer fees for financial services according to the Credit Union League’s 2012-13 Scorecard. The Scorecard is an annual report prepared by the Wisconsin Credit Union League detailing credit unions’ economic impact and commitment to social responsibility.

For the third year, the Illinois Credit Union Foundation is bringing the REAL Solutions enhanced version of the Credit Union Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) to the credit unions of Illinois.

Last Thursday, the Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) was the first League in the nation to host for its staff a dynamic, new Retirement Fair created by the National Credit Union Foundation’s (NCUF) REAL Solutions Program in cooperation with CUNA Mutual Group.

Prior to the first REAL Solutions enhanced version of the Credit Union Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) to certify credit union financial counselors, there was only one certified financial counselor in credit unions in Mississippi. Eighteen months and two programs later, there are now 59 certified credit union financial counselors in 17 credit unions in Mississippi.

Thanks to the ‘Foundation FOCUS’ statewide initiative from the Texas Credit Union Foundation (TCUF), Texans are working together to improve the financial well-being in their communities, from preschool to adulthood. The collaborative financial literacy initiative was expanded with the help of a National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) Financial Education Grant.

From CUNA News Now – Forty representatives from 19 Illinois credit unions are on their way to becoming Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) after completing the final webinar of the REAL Solutions Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FICEP) Tuesday.

The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) has been working to build capacity within Iowa credit unions to implement financial education programs via training, technical assistance and one-time grants for financial education start-ups or expansions. The initiative was made possible by a Financial Education Grant from the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF).

From CUNA News Now – Illinois REAL Solutions program partner credit unions attended their first in-person meeting of 2012 last week. They discussed attracting new members and eco-friendly loans, and compared popular prepaid cards.

From the New Jersey Credit Union League – On Wednesday, February 22nd, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) hosted a luncheon at the League office for credit unions, interns, and representatives from the disability community to discuss the experiences of Cycle VII of the Building Economic Strength Together (BEST) internship program. This is the last cycle of the program, which was piloted two years ago in New Jersey. The BEST program is a collaborative project that provides internship opportunities for people with disabilities.

From CUNA News Now – The REAL Solutions Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) has been brought back to Illinois for a second year with two modifications to allow as many Illinois credit unions as possible to participate in the program, said the Illinois Credit Union League.

The video above was put together by the Mississippi Credit Union Association and will be used to promote their 2012 FiCEP Class and to create a greater awareness for the program. Their enhanced version of the Credit Union Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) is available to credit union staff thanks to a collaboration between the National Credit Union Foundation’s REAL Solutions® effort, Credit Union National Association’s Center for Professional Development (CUNA CPD), and the league.

Experienced Michigan credit union financial counselors share their best practices and financial counseling program details in a guide called Financial Counseling Best Practices that is now available on the Michigan Credit Union League website.

Knowing the consumer need for trustworthy financial guidance while tight credit union budgets often restrict the number of staff able to attend a live training school, the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) offered a unique guided self-study financial counseling training program last year that resulted in 72 new Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors from 33 Michigan credit unions. Since then, MCUL has reached an estimated 170 credit union staff and more than1,850 consumers.