Metro Hosts Experiential Session on the Importance of Financial Health
Published on July 17, 2018
During the recent America’s Credit Union Conference held in Boston, Metro Credit Union hosted an Experiential Session at CONNECT, a Financial Opportunity Center where participants experienced financial health in action.
Metro welcomed Gigi Hyland, the Executive Director of the National Credit Union Foundation, along with 40 credit union officials to discuss how they can make financial health an integral part of their credit union's operations. Metro was excited to share the innovative collaboration they have with CONNECT to help people achieve sustainable, living-wage jobs as well as financial health and well-being by partnering to provide essential skills, knowledge and social capital in one central and supportive location. Attendees witnessed first-hand how CONNECT offers the services of five agencies that are all focused on improving the financial mobility of families.
“Metro Credit Union is proud to be part of the partnership of community organizations that share a commitment to the people of Chelsea,” said Robert M. Cashman, President and CEO of Metro Credit Union. Cashman went on to say, “Through CONNECT, residents and businesses of Chelsea will be able to achieve and sustain financial stability. Metro’s innovative products, services and programs, like the one-on-one financial coaching model, will assist the community in building assets and moving toward financial independence.”
Charlene Bauer, Chief Development Officer for Metro and Managing Partner of CONNECT stated, “CONNECT seeks to work with the client as a whole so that they can improve their finances, decide to dream, and succeed. We are fortunate to have this powerful collaboration where we can refer Members that may be struggling financially for one on one financial coaching, where they then have the opportunity to receive support through the various partners for further growth and stabilization.”
CONNECT’s five partners include Metro Credit Union for Financial Products and Services, The Neighborhood Developers for Income Stabilization and Financial Capabilities, Career Source and Bunker Hill Community College for Employment & Skills, and Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership for Housing Supports. CONNECT services approximately 3,500 clients annually who realize measurable outcomes of reduced debt, improved credit scores, higher paying jobs, increased savings and educational certificates, and more.
For more information on CONNECT, please contact Charlene Bauer at 617.889.7795.
About Metro Credit Union
Metro Credit Union is the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts, approaching $1.8 billion in assets. Metro provides a full range of financial products to more than 200,000 members in Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol and Worcester counties, as well as to over 1,200 companies throughout the Commonwealth.
Founded in 1926, Metro currently operates 15 branch offices in Boston, Burlington, Chelsea, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Melrose, Newton, Peabody, Salem, and Tewksbury. Learn more at MetroCU.org.
