Earlier this year, Destinations Credit Union and Operation HOPE launched a partnership to bring credit and money management coaching to the Greater Baltimore community. Offered at no cost to participants, HOPE Inside Destinations includes a HOPE financial wellbeing coach providing educational workshops and one-on-one coaching. The Credit and Money Management Program, a core focus of the award-winning HOPE Inside financial empowerment model developed by Operation HOPE, is designed to transform disabling financial mindsets—teaching people the language of money, how to navigate credit, and make better decisions with the money they have. Destinations is the first credit union in the country to offer HOPE Inside. The services of the HOPE financial wellbeing coach are completely free and open to both members and non-members of the Credit Union. Destinations has provided office space and resources for this HOPE Inside office at the Destinations main branch in Parkville located at 8767 Satyr Hill Road.
WHO: Brian Vittek, President and CEO, Destinations Credit Union
John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Operation HOPE
John Bratsakis, President and CEO, MD | DC Credit Union Association
Kylie Delgado, Program Manager - Bank On Maryland, Cash Campaign of Maryland
Kyle Swisher, Executive Director, Credit Union Foundation of MD & DC
Rodney Hood, Chairman, National Credit Union Administration
Evan Richards, Legislative Aide, Office of Senator Kathy Klausmeier
WHAT: Grand opening event for HOPE Inside office at Parkville Branch.
WHEN: July 18, 2019 | 4:00-6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Destinations Credit Union 8767 Satyr Hill Road, Baltimore, MD 21234
John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE and nationally-recognized leader is the featured speaker. Mr. Bryant, along with Destinations Credit Union President and CEO, Brian Vittek, will be available for interviews prior to the event on July 18th. Yolanda Hobbs, HOPE Financial Wellbeing Coach, will be available along with a few HOPE Inside clients who will be available to talk about their experiences and how this initiative has helped them.
All members of the media are invited to attend. Please contact Carol Szaroleta to confirm attendance at 410-663-2500 ext. 124
The U.S. economy remains strong, but many Americans, particularly in the Baltimore area, are financially stressed and have a tough time making ends meet. According to the Federal Reserve, total credit card debt has eclipsed $1 trillion and 40 percent of Americans would have trouble finding $400 to pay for an emergency.
To help people get back on track and stay on track financially, Destinations Credit Union has partnered with Operation HOPE to provide educational workshops and one-on-one coaching through the HOPE Inside office at Destinations. HOPE Inside Destinations is available to the entire Greater Baltimore community, not just members of Destinations.
At HOPE Inside Destinations, a HOPE financial wellbeing coach provides clients with the tools to improve credit scores, make better financial decisions, break disabling mindsets, increase savings, and manage debt.
In just the first quarter since opening the HOPE Inside office, Destinations Credit Union is making a difference:
- A client's home was prevented from going into foreclosure
- Clients’ average FICO scores went up by 56 points
- Savings balances went up an average of $382
- Average debt went down by $9,350