SCE CU and the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas (Consulado de México en Las Vegas) have announced a partnership to expand financial inclusion to Hispanic and immigrant communities. As a member of Inclusiv, SCE CU has held the Juntos Avanzamos designation for a decade, which focuses on providing Hispanic and immigrant consumers with safe, affordable, and responsible financial services.
“Southern Nevada holds a special place in our hearts, and we are passionate about increasing the services to help Hispanic and immigrant consumers navigate the U.S. financial system,” said Diana Cervantes, vice president of social impact for the credit union. “Financial inclusion is truly a gateway toward a stronger community, and we are thrilled to partner with the Consulate of Mexico for this important endeavor.”
The partnership between SCE CU, Inclusiv, and the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas is a historic first in Nevada. This designation and partnership align with SCE CU’s focus to create good in the communities they serve, as well as expand financial education and equitable inclusion for the unbanked and underserved communities. The partnership also allows for those with official Mexican consular cards to open an account with the credit union, giving them access to safe and secure banking and financial literacy tools.
SCE CU, in partnership with the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas, will serve the southern Nevada Hispanic community (regardless of immigration status) and help people of modest means reach financial independence.
“It’s an honor to collaborate with the Consulate of Mexico to not only bring financial inclusion to communities, but really make a difference in people’s lives,” said Jennifer Oliver, CEO of the credit union. “We look forward to furthering this program and our impact in southern Nevada as we continue our mission-driven work to empower all individuals to achieve lasting financial security.”
In addition to remarks from Las Vegas Mexican Consulate Consul Julián Escutia Rodríguez, SCE CU, and Inclusiv, the event also included a statement from a local business owner who shared her story about starting her business and banking with the credit union. Nevada State Senator Rochelle Nguyen, Assemblymember Reuben D’Silva, and Assemblymember Selena Torres were also in attendance to support the initiative.
“On behalf of Inclusiv, we congratulate SCE Credit Union for this groundbreaking partnership and its leadership within the Juntos Avanzamos program, a financial inclusion framework designed for credit unions committed to meeting the needs of Latino communities and immigrant consumers,” said Pablo DeFilippi, executive vice president for Inclusiv Network. “Inclusiv facilitates collaborations between Juntos Avanzamos-designated credit unions and the Mexican Consulate Network to bring responsible, accessible, and affordable asset-building products and services to communities that have been not only left behind by the financial mainstream, but actively targeted by unscrupulous, high-cost, fringe financial services providers. Through this partnership, the Mexican community in Las Vegas and Nevada at-large will be able to build credit to make their dreams a reality.”
