Fifteen Elevations staff just lately grew to become Licensed Credit score Union Monetary Counselors (CCUFCs), bringing the credit score union’s whole to 24.
These staff can supply members free recommendation about their private monetary choices. 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 finest monetary practices and methods to assist members implement these practices.
“This certification helps us present members we need to and are in a position to assist enhance their lives,” mentioned Andrew Goudy, an Elevations worker and CCUFC. “It permits us to pay attention, seek the advice of and supply recommendation on the highest stage.”
Course subjects embody finest practices for serving to members with monetary choices, monetary experience (all the things from methods to save to methods to speak to collectors and methods to handle chapter) and monetary attitudes and behaviors. CCUFCs might help members preserve monetary stability.
For instance, if somebody asks to open a private mortgage, a CCUFC might 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 recommended her on methods to 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] might help make it easy to know methods to finances 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 tasks. There isn’t a direct monetary incentive for them to hunt this certification, however staff take this course to finest assist members.
Goudy hopes members see the funding in monetary training exhibits members. “You may belief us, and we’re right here for you,” he mentioned.
Elevations plans to take one other cohort via 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 Outdated 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