Unitus Community CU Creating Inclusion and Financial Education Program for Mexican Community

Portland, Ore., February 28, 2022 – Unitus Community Credit Union just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Consulate of Mexico to establish a partnership to provide education and services to members of the Mexican community in Portland. Unitus is just one of two credit unions in Oregon to set up this partnership with the Consulate of Mexico, and only one of a few in the United States.

As part of the partnership, Unitus will create an inclusion and financial education program at the Consulate. In addition, Unitus has committed to accepting the Matricula Consular ID Card as a form of acceptable identification to open new member accounts. The credit union will also participate in the Consulate’s Consulados Moviles (mobile consulate) program, reaching rural areas with financial education and resource information.

Consular Carlos Quesnel Melendez told Univision Portland that this partnership creates services and access for Hispanics in Portland.

“How to obtain your ITIN in the U.S., how to obtain your federal registration in Mexico, how to start a business, both here and in Mexico, how to obtain housing credit. In other words, we have a series of services,” explained Consular Quesnel.

“The consulate represents a lot of people here, and it’s a focus point for resources to help people,” said Steven Stapp, President at CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union. “We are part of the community, and we want to be with them, too.”

As part of the partnership, Unitus will provide exclusive financial education related videos that will be shared on social media. Unitus will also teach workshops and be on site at the Consulate’s popup events around the metro area.

The Federal Reserve reports that 10% of U.S. Hispanics do not bank with a financial institution. Another 22% are considered “underbanked,” which means they may have a bank account, but often rely on alternative services like money orders or payday loans for their financial needs.

At Unitus, we’re dedicated to improving lives in the communities we serve. As a member-owned local credit union, we invest in people by doing the right thing. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, we provide support for community groups through volunteerism and financial donations. Our 104,000 members count on us to serve them and their communities; our 300 employees share that passion for service. Learn about the local impact Unitus makes by visiting unitusccu.com