More communities will have a pathway towards financial freedom.
According to a press release, Wells Fargo and Operation HOPE, Inc. have partnered to support underserved households. Soon community members will have access to the HOPE Inside program which will provide access to financial coaches, financial education workshops, and free personal coaching. The resources will empower communities along their financial journey.
“We know from our outreach and work with national and community stakeholders that financial education and guidance, and an individual’s sense of inclusion and trust, are all important factors in bringing more people who are unbanked into the formal banking system,” said Darlene Goins, head of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative, according to a press release. “Working with Operation HOPE is one important way that we can remove barriers to financial inclusion and help empower people with education, resources and tools to manage their money, improve their credit and achieve their financial goals.
HOPE Inside honors Wells Fargo’s decade long plan to ensure inclusion is at the forefront of its banking initiatives. According to a press release, the banking giant has committed to removing barriers for Black and African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Alaska Native communities in the United States as currently half are unbanked households.
“The Wells Fargo HOPE Inside centers mark a significant step forward in addressing barriers to financial wealth in diverse communities by offering a welcoming space, access to financial coaches, and expanded resources that support the financial goals of individuals with the greatest needs,” said John Hope Bryant, Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE, Inc. “This collaborative effort can drive meaningful change and ultimately help address the deeply rooted barriers to financial empowerment in underserved communities.”
Starting this month, members can expect the first HOPE Inside centers in Atlanta, Houston, and Oakland. As the year comes to an end , the program will expand to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, N.J., Camden, N.J., Phoenix, and Gallup, N.M. Wells Fargo hopes to reach 20 markets throughout 150 branch locations by 2023.
