Pasadena Credit Union Kicks Off Financial Literacy Movement for Southern Californians

Pasadena-based Wescom Credit Union announces the launch of “Did You Know?”, a financial education campaign delivering quick and easy methods for managing personal finances by simply being educated about banking basics. The  series of money-smart programs, financial tips, complementary financial consulting and mobile banking events will launch this week throughout Southern California.

Wescom’s financial education opportunities cater to individuals and specific audiences from millennials to boomers, supporting financial literacy programs for everyone from first time home buyers and college students focusing on their future financial plan to refinancing car loans, lowering personal credit card interest rates and restructuring retirement plans. The goal of the campaign is to help individuals maintain an educated approach to their finances.

Traditional banking terms and practices have long been considered complicated and mundane. Times have changed and consumers want a stronger stake hold and participation in their financial interests. Technology advancements and eServices have also brought about new and exciting opportunities to manage personal finances. Wescom’s financial education campaign was created to prove that the banking basics most people fear are actually quite simple.

“Each stage of life has its own particular financial issues and every person has their own particular financial education needs. We want to help people realize that taking charge of their personal finances is not as difficult or time consuming as they may think,” states Darren Williams, CEO of Wescom. Adding, “We’re hoping to simplify the banking world, one individual at a time.”

Wescom’s Financial Education portal, Wescom.org/DidYouKnow, offers tips, programs, and free resources for all walks of life, including:

• My Generation (18-34 Years) – a money-smart start to your future
• Boomers – restructuring retirement plans, Social Security calculations, information on trusts and insurance opportunities
• Families – programs specifically designed for families, single parenting and youths
• Homeowners/Home Buyers – knowing the facts and understanding the opportunities available when buying a home
• College Students – important practices for a sound financial future – initially launched through UCLA’s student-athlete financial literacy program
• Insurance Protection – understanding unique, important facts about insurance and the ability to obtain coverage without needing to go through a traditional insurance broker

As part of the financial education program, Big Blue, Wescom’s Mobile Banking Unit, will be visiting neighborhoods and community events throughout Southern California. Measuring 18-feet tall, Big Blue is a traveling Wescom branch equipped with informative touch-screen TVs, a full service ATM machine, and an 88” flat screen TV on top of the fully decked out Big Blue truck. Financial experts are on hand to help the community learn about financial opportunities, assist in opening accounts and handle banking transactions. A full schedule of events is available at: https://www.wescom.org/events/index.asp.

Click to Tweet – Helping the economy one individual at a time. @Liz_Wescom launches Financial Literacy Campaign

The Did you Know? campaign is an extension of Wescom’s Financial Literacy Program founded for college athletes. As the Official Financial Institution of UCLA Athletics, Wescom has been helping student-athletes sort out their financial future with programs that deliver access to financial experts and resources for financial planning and investments. Wescom Credit Union also proudly supports UCLA Football home games with the Wescom Fan Zone at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

About Wescom Credit Union

Since 1934, Wescom Credit Union has been dedicated to helping members throughout Southern California build better lives. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Wescom now has 22 branches providing essential banking solutions to nearly 200,000 members. Like all credit unions, Wescom is a nonprofit financial cooperative, and their members are their owners. This means their excess earnings benefit each one of their member-owners with such benefits as lower loan rates, higher savings yields, reduced fees, and a robust network of branches and ATMs. For more information, please visit www.wescom.org.