SEATTLE — Verity Credit Union has launched a new financial well-being initiative aimed at expanding access to financial education and resources, with a focus on underserved communities, according to the credit union.
The $735 million-asset institution said its new program, Pathways to Wealth & Resources (PWR), is designed to help individuals and small businesses build financial knowledge and pursue long-term stability. The program is free, open to the public and does not require credit union membership, Verity said.
Verity, a Community Development Financial Institution, said the initiative is grounded in the belief that individuals bring valuable lived experience and community knowledge to their financial journeys, and that those strengths should be recognized and supported.
‘Relevant & Accessible’
“While access to financial information has expanded, access to trusted, community-rooted, and culturally responsive guidance remains uneven,” said Ziquora Banks, chief impact strategy officer at Verity Credit Union, in a statement. “As a CDFI, Verity is uniquely positioned to respond—working alongside communities to ensure financial education is relevant, accessible, and rooted in lived experience.”
Three Core Components
According to Verity Credit Union, the PWR program is structured around three core components designed to support long-term financial well-being:
- Learning: Participants can build practical financial knowledge through workshops led by Verity’s community financial education specialist, as well as through peer learning and discussions about money.
- Access: The program connects participants with financial tools, resources and guidance aligned with their personal and business goals.
- Opportunity: Participants are encouraged to explore pathways to long-term financial stability and wealth-building, including homeownership, entrepreneurship and asset development.
Who Program Appeals To
The credit union said the program is designed to be accessible regardless of prior financial experience and is open to a broad range of participants, with a focus on those most affected by financial exclusion, including:
- Low- to moderate-income households
- Communities of color
- Immigrant and refugee communities
- Unbanked and underbanked individuals
- Gig and hourly workers
- Young adults and community college students
- Microbusiness owners and entrepreneurs
Multiple Ways to Engage
Participants can engage with the program in multiple ways, including attending workshops, joining cohort-based learning groups, accessing digital resources or connecting with coaching partners, Verity said. Many sessions will be offered virtually, with select in-person events, including an initial branch-based workshop scheduled for April 23 in Auburn.
“PWR is an expression of who we are as a credit union, rooted in community, dignity, and partnership,” said Mandy Lee, community impact manager at Verity Credit Union. “It reflects how Verity walks alongside our community as they build financial confidence, stability, and long-term well-being.”
Verity Credit Union said the program is intended to provide a flexible, personalized approach that allows participants to engage at their own pace while building financial skills and confidence over time.
