Fifteen Elevations staff just lately turned Licensed Credit score Union Monetary Counselors (CCUFCs), bringing the credit score union’s complete to 24.
These staff can provide members free recommendation about their private monetary selections. They spend roughly eight weeks studying course supplies, attending roughly 18 hours of webinars earlier than taking a monitored and timed 100-question examination. The course helps them perceive greatest monetary practices and how you can assist members implement these practices.
“This certification helps us present members we wish to and are capable of assist enhance their lives,” mentioned Andrew Goudy, an Elevations worker and CCUFC. “It permits us to hear, seek the advice of and supply recommendation on the highest degree.”
Course subjects embody greatest practices for serving to members with monetary selections, monetary experience (every thing from how you can save to how you can discuss to collectors and how you can handle chapter) and monetary attitudes and behaviors. CCUFCs may help members keep monetary stability.
For instance, if somebody asks to open a private mortgage, a CCUFC may help them perceive how a mortgage can have an effect on the remainder of their funds. As a member asks to open a bank card in a department, a CCUFC can begin a dialog about credit score utilization and constructing credit score.
Goudy was one of many first Elevations staff to finish the CCUFC course of. Out of all his experiences advising members, he remembers one who needed a mortgage however wasn’t eligible. Six months after Goudy endorsed her on how you can pay down her debt and stabilize her funds, she got here again and acquired the mortgage.
Elevations department supervisor and new CCUFC Sarah Belkin mentioned the certification ready her to have these in-depth conversations.
“We [CCUFCs] may help make it easy to know how you can funds and save,” she mentioned. “I believe our members are actually going to learn.”
Elevations staff volunteer to undergo the certification, becoming it in with their common duties. There isn’t a direct monetary incentive for them to hunt this certification, however staff take this course to greatest assist members.
Goudy hopes members see the funding in monetary training exhibits members. “You possibly can belief us, and we’re right here for you,” he mentioned.
Elevations plans to take one other cohort by way of the certification course of in fall 2024.
The brand new CCUFCs are:
- Sarah Belkin, Boulder Diagonal department
- Tres Lacert, Boulder Diagonal department
- Catherine Pena, Boulder UMC department
- Joseph Woodruff, Fort Collins Concord department
- Candace DaSilva, Fort Collins Previous City department
- Jeff Slater, Fort Collins Midtown department
- Nicole Pilger, Lafayette department
- Kaylee Fontes, Longmont Most important department
- Mario Castillo, Loveland department
- Rebecca Dellamore, Loveland department
- Kelli Maes, company workplace
- Ramon Robinson, company workplace