Real Solutions - A National Credit Union Foundation Program

From CUNA News Now – The REAL Solutions Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) has been brought back to Illinois for a second year with two modifications to allow as many Illinois credit unions as possible to participate in the program, said the Illinois Credit Union League.

The video above was put together by the Mississippi Credit Union Association and will be used to promote their 2012 FiCEP Class and to create a greater awareness for the program. Their enhanced version of the Credit Union Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) is available to credit union staff thanks to a collaboration between the National Credit Union Foundation’s REAL Solutions® effort, Credit Union National Association’s Center for Professional Development (CUNA CPD), and the league.

Experienced Michigan credit union financial counselors share their best practices and financial counseling program details in a guide called Financial Counseling Best Practices that is now available on the Michigan Credit Union League website.

Knowing the consumer need for trustworthy financial guidance while tight credit union budgets often restrict the number of staff able to attend a live training school, the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) offered a unique guided self-study financial counseling training program last year that resulted in 72 new Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors from 33 Michigan credit unions. Since then, MCUL has reached an estimated 170 credit union staff and more than1,850 consumers.

Several New Mexico families who belong to their local credit unions now have better awareness and knowledge of good financial habits after participating in the 11-month “Savings Challenge New Mexico” and one lucky family is now $10,000 richer. The Challenge goals were basic stepping stones that provided each family with the skills to achieve better financial well-being. The three goals were: reduce debt, build savings and improve their credit score.

The Wisconsin Credit Union League is making a difference across the state with the Investor Education in Your Workplace™ (or “IEiYW™”) program. IEiYW is a free, online financial and investment education program made possible thanks to a grant from the Investor Protection Trust.

CUNA News Now – Nearly 30 individuals from 14 Illinois credit unions are on their way to graduating as Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) of the REAL Solutions Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP).

CUNA News Now – More than 20 individuals from Illinois credit unions are halfway to “graduating” as Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) of the REAL Solutions Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP).

The Wisconsin Credit Union League sent out a great press release on financial literacy month about the great work that WI credit unions do around financial literacy all year-round.

The Community Reinvestment Initiative supports the Michigan Credit Union League’s advocacy efforts through the CRI Report. The report is compiled each year using data from the CRI Survey and outside sources. Distributed to lawmakers during the CUNA GAC and throughout the year, the CRI Report contains information that demonstrates the good work credit unions do in their communities and further promotes the credit union difference.

Leveraging grants dollars provided by the Texas Credit Union Foundation (Foundation), the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas (CCCS) will offer 100 free webinars throughout April in honor of Financial Literacy Month. Consumers who attend at least three webinars will have the chance to win one of three $100 gift cards.

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association teamed up with the Pennsylvania Securities Commission and the Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education to pilot the Investor Education in the Workplace program. The pilot included 38 credit unions with over 1,500 employees.

The following report is from the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates, which they distributed it to media, legislators, regulators, Georgia CUs and others. It was released in Oct. of last year.

Their 2010 REAL Deal Report illustrates the impact Georgia credit unions consistently make on their members and their communities.

The Wisconsin Credit Union League, the league where REAL Solutions originally started, sent out a press release this week with some amazing statistics on the impact that REAL Solutions has made to consumers in Wisconsin.

With the REAL Solutions member testimonial video contest ending last week, we’d like to highlight even more member testimonials (and CU staff testimonials), this time from Wisconsin. We’ve previously highlighted the Wisconsin Credit Union League’s “For a Reason” website last year, but recently they’ve added a lot more to their website, bringing the total to over 130!