New York, NY (June 19, 2019) - Inclusiv announces the largest expansion of the Juntos Avanzamos credit union network since the program went national three years ago. Since January of this year, 11 credit unions have received the prestigious Juntos Avanzamos designation. This new group of Juntos Avanzamos credit unions brings affordable, relevant, bi-cultural and bilingual services to over 418,000 consumers in six states, and expands the Juntos Avanzamos presence to the state of Idaho.

 

Juntos Avanzamos designated credit unions now operate in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, providing services to almost 6 million consumers through a network of over 700 branches.

 

Inclusiv and its Juntos Avanzamos League partners, the Cornerstone Credit Union League , the California and Nevada Credit Union League , the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates , the New York Credit Union Association and the Northwest Credit Union Association, welcome  Alive Credit Union , Cy-Fair Credit Union , Guardians Credit Union , Icon Credit Union , MPS Credit Union , Pasadena Service Federal Credit Union , Premier America Credit Union , Rocket Federal Credit Union , Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union , Tucoemas Federal Credit Union and TTCU Federal Credit Union to our growing network of institutions committed to meeting the needs of Hispanic and immigrant consumers and their adoption of the Juntos Avanzamos framework of financial inclusion.

 

"The success of the Juntos Avanzamos National Program is the result of a growing coalition of leading credit union organizations that recognize the imperative and opportunity that connecting with the Hispanic market represents for our future and relevance as an industry. This cohort of credit unions has proven their commitment to financial inclusion and adherence to the fundamental principles of the credit union movement. Juntos Avanzamos demonstrates that credit unions can do well by doing good and that mission and margin should go together," said Pablo DeFilippi, SVP of Membership and Network Engagement at Inclusiv.

“We are elated at the continued growth and expansion of Juntos Avanzamos across the United States,” said Caroline Willard, President/CEO of the Cornerstone Credit Union League. “When we agreed to partner with Inclusiv to expand the program beyond Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, we knew the Juntos Avanzamos program would be appealing to credit unions wanting to serve the Hispanic population with fair and equitable financial services. Part of our mission as credit unions is to meet and serve the needs of the underserved and unserved, and credit unions that embrace Juntos Avanzamos are giving themselves a competitive advantage to other financial services institutions. We are additionally thrilled to see the program continue to grow in the Cornerstone region, including our first Juntos Avanzamos designated credit union in Arkansas. Congratulations to Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, TTCU Federal Credit Union, and Rocket Federal Credit Union on earning the prestigious Juntos Avanzamos designation and in furthering your commitment to serving your members" said Willard.

 

“The California Credit Union League is thrilled to have three additional California credit unions join the Juntos Avanzamos Network,” said Larry Palochik, Senior Vice President Member Solutions, California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues . “We are extremely proud of the important outreach and services these credit unions are providing to the underserved in the areas they serve, particularly the immigrant and Hispanic communities. By obtaining the Juntos Avanzamos designation, these credit unions clearly demonstrate the credit union motto of ‘People Helping People’ and we congratulate all three on their efforts.”

“For over 100 years, immigrants from all over the world have turned to New York’s credit unions for economic opportunity and a shot at a better financial future,” said William J. Mellin, President/CEO of the New York Credit Union Association. “New York is perhaps the most diverse state in the nation, thanks in large part to our vibrant immigrant communities. I commend and congratulate Southern Chautauqua FCU for receiving the admirable Juntos Avanzamos designation and for their ongoing commitment to serving the area’s Hispanic community. It’s my hope that more credit unions will seek out the Juntos Avanzamos designation to meet the evolving financial needs of New York’s Hispanic population.”

 

“The Northwest Credit Union Association congratulates Icon Credit Union for receiving the Juntos Avanzamos designation,” said Troy Stang, President and CEO, Northwest Credit Union Association. “It is the first credit union in Idaho to do so. We are proud of Icon’s commitment to expanding access to financial services in the communities it serves.”

" Florida is known for having a diverse culture and a large Hispanic population. The three Florida credit unions who have received their Juntos Avanzamos designations this year are helping to lead the way to inclusive financial services in our state. We commend Alive Credit Union, Guardians Credit Union and MPS Credit Union on this wonderful accomplishment" said J ordan Burroughs, Director of Membership Relations at the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates.

The growth of Juntos Avanzamos underlines the increased awareness within our movement about the importance of financial inclusion and the key role Hispanics and immigrants play in the nation’s economy. 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.

 

Since the beginning of the year, four credit unions joined their communities in celebrating their Juntos Avanzamos designations by hosting Proclamation Ceremonies. The Juntos Avanzamos Proclamation is a public ceremony intended to convey the message that the credit union is “open for business” and ready to serve and meet the needs of the Hispanic and Immigrant communities. Downey Federal Credit Union in California, Hope Federal Credit Union branches in Tennessee and Arkansas, and Guardians Credit Union in Florida celebrated their respective Proclamations during the first half of 2019. Greylock Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield, Massachussets celebrated their designation this week, with the participation of over 300 members of the community, staff, public officials, and representatives from Inclusiv and the Cooperative Credit Union Association .

Guardians Credit Union | West Palm Beach, FL | John Deese, CEO

Members: 30,986 | Assets: $174,433,272

http://www.guardianscu.coop

MPS Credit Union | Miami, FL | Jace Reyes, CEO

Members: 16,671 | Assets: $133,222,004

http://www.mpscu.org

Premier America Credit Union | Chatsworth, CA | Rudy Pereira, CEO

Members: 113,815 | Assets: $2,864,668,660

http://www.PremierAmerica.com

Rocket Federal Credit Union | McGregor, TX | Terry Sloan, CEO

Members: 2,703 | Assets: $23, 482, 461

http://www.rocketfcu.com

Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union | Lakewood, NY

John Felton, CEO

Members: 15,506 | Assets: $84,980,347

http://www.665-7000.com

TTCU Federal Credit Union | Tulsa, OK |Tim Lyons, CEO

Members : 131,052 | Assets: $1,919,747,412

http://www.ttcu.com