DUBLIN, Calif. – July 27, 2022 — Patelco Credit Union, a Bay Area-based credit union dedicated to the financial wellness of its members and communities, recently teamed up with United Way’s SparkPoint to bring its ScoreUp™ Credit Builder Loan to the center’s clients.
Patelco’s credit builder loan has helped more than a thousand people establish and improve their credit scores. The ScoreUp™ Credit Builder Loan is a great additional tool for SparkPoint financial coaches to leverage when working with families to help them build their credit, increase their savings and reduce their debt. Patelco’s member development and retail teams also work together to offer financial services and serve as backup financial coaches to SparkPoint families.
“Throughout our year-long partnership, the team has helped SparkPoint financial coaches understand how ScoreUp™ can benefit the families they help,” said Darrin Mink, vice president of virtual delivery and membership development at Patelco Credit Union. “ScoreUp™ is a great tool to help establish and build credit. We want as many members as possible to benefit from the program, and this partnership gives more people access to it.”
At the Fremont Sparkpoint Center on Friday, July 8, the credit union presented SparkPoint with a $5,000 check to help fund the program’s financial coaches and their one-on-one work with clients to recognize behavioral outcomes, set goals, brainstorm strategies and set realistic action plans.
Photographed left to right: Rita Gupta, United Way Bay Area Corporate Partnerships Director; Judy Schwartz, Family Services Administrator, City of Fremont; Alma Tolentino, Patelco Retail Branch Manager; Michele Enriquez, Patelco Membership Development Manager; Ivonne Ortega, Patelco Membership Development Specialist.
“This program is so beneficial for people like me, working families who live paycheck to paycheck, who cannot get unemployment and still need to provide for their families at the end of each month in the middle of a global pandemic,” said a SparkPoint client. “This program helped with my rent, bills, food and gas expenses. I am very thankful for everyone involved. If I could say something to other fathers or families in our community going through a hard time, it would be that,' When you need help, it's best not to stay quiet. Ask for help. There's no shame in that.”
About SparkPoint
SparkPoint centers work with families to meet their basic needs, increase their income, build their credit, increase their savings, and reduce their debt. Financial coaches work one-on-one with clients to recognize behavioral outcomes, set goals, brainstorm strategies, and set realistic action plans. They value strengths, build motivation, and provide monitoring and accountability. SparkPoint serves low-income families seeking to improve their financial situation. Services are provided at no cost to community members. For more information, visit https://uwba.org/what-we-do/sparkpoint-program/.
About Patelco Credit Union
Dublin, Calif.-based Patelco Credit Union is a not-for-profit credit union committed to serving the financial health and well-being of its membership. With more than 400,000 members, primarily in and around northern California, Patelco is committed to improving its members’ financial well-being and fueling hope and opportunity for its members by offering personalized solutions, advice, and expertise that empower them to achieve personal financial freedom. Founded in 1936 with $500 in assets by employees of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, Patelco is in the top one percent of U.S. credit unions with close to $10 billion in assets. For more information, visit https://www.patelco.org/.