DENVER– Colorado Credit Union has just celebrated the second class of graduates from its “EmpowerHER program,” which is specifically designed for women and this year had a specific focus on building emergency savings. The credit union is sharing with CU Daily readers how it deveoped the program and why, as well as sharing some advice for other CUs interested in creating such a program itself.
Eleven women graduated from the most recent edition of the EmpowerHER Program, which is offered in partnership with nonprofit partner Dress for Success Denver and is made possible through a renewed grant from the Centennial Lending, a Hand Foundation.
EmpowerHer provided education on personal financial management, “equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to build financial stability through an emergency savings fund.”
Four-Week Program
The four-week program, hosted at Colorado Credit Union’s branch, featured in-person workshops led by the credit union’s financial experts that cover essential topics in saving, investing, budgeting strategies, responsible credit use, and long-term financial planning. Participants also benefited from guest speakers on homeownership and tax preparation, with many women receiving free tax filing assistance through the credit union’s partnership with Littleton VITA, CCU said.
According to the credit union, a key highlight of the program was the opportunity for participants to join Colorado Credit Union and earn funds to grow their emergency savings fund. All 11 graduates received the incentive.
Below, Teagan Werden, community impact manager at Colorado Credit Union, shares additional details about EmpowerHER.
The CU Daily: How did Colorado Credit Union come to be involved in this program, and for how long have you been involved? Who are the women in the program, and how did they come to be involved? What is their general financial state?
Werden: Colorado Credit Union has partnered with Dress for Success Denver (DFSD) since 2023, providing a variety of financial education resources, hosting financial workshops, and contributing to fundraising initiatives and events. I have been involved in this partnership since its beginning and am proud to have helped build a strong relationship rooted in collaboration and trust. Specifically, Colorado Credit Union plays a significant role in providing financial literacy resources to DFSD’s Professional Women’s Group, a cohort of women who have established workplace stability looking to further their knowledge and skills necessary to achieve economic independence.
The Professional Women’s Group is a diverse group of women with a wide range of backgrounds and financial experiences. Many members are in the process of rebuilding their financial situations and are seeking resources to support their personal growth and help them achieve their financial goals. The EmpowerHER Program is designed to meet these needs, providing practical tools and education tailored to empower women at every stage of their financial journey.
The EmpowerHER Program was developed in collaboration with DFSD and intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of women in the Professional Women’s Group, where financial empowerment is a key goal of the group. The program was built to support participants with practical financial knowledge and tools that align with this mission, helping women strengthen their financial confidence and stability as they work toward personal and professional growth.
The 2026 Focus
The most recent 2026 EmpowerHER Program marked the second year of offering the program with DFSD and focused specifically on building emergency savings, responding to the immediate financial priorities expressed by DFSD. The pilot program in 2025 centered on establishing, building, and repairing credit. By evolving the program’s curriculum from credit to emergency savings, Colorado Credit Union demonstrated its ability to adapt financial education to meet participants where they are in their financial journeys while also responding to the broader economic climate. This flexible approach ensures the program remains relevant to the real-life challenges and goals women may be experiencing at a particular moment.
The success and positive engagement from participants across both program years highlights the value of this collaborative and responsive approach to our partnership with DFSD. As a result, Colorado Credit Union plans to offer another EmpowerHER Program in fall 2026.
The CU Daily: What kinds of misunderstandings or lack of education (on financial issues) do you encounter among this involved in the program?
Werden: Participants in the program often face gaps in financial knowledge that can impact their stability and growth. Many rely on peer-to-peer apps to manage finances, which are convenient but not a secure place to build savings. Credit education is another common challenge, with misunderstandings around credit utilization, hard versus soft credit inquiries, and interpreting credit reports.
Additionally, participants may be unaware of ways to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud, such as credit freezes and monitoring tools.
The CU Daily: Why a program for women? Are there some unique challenges women face or is there a gap in the market, etc.?
Werden: The program is designed specifically for women because many face unique financial challenges that aren’t always addressed by traditional financial education. Participants from the Professional Women’s Group, although all employed and working toward financial independence, still face obstacles such as damaged credit, lack of savings, or limited access to affordable financial products.
Many participants are also single mothers, highlighting the need for tailored support that empowers women to achieve financial freedom while taking care of their families. By focusing on women, the program addresses gaps in access to resources, knowledge, and confidence in money management, helping participants make informed decisions that benefit both themselves and their households.
Ultimately, the goal is to provide the tools and strategies women need to take control of their finances, plan for the future, and build long-term stability.
The CU Daily: What is the objective of the program and can you walk us through what the program is like for attendees?
Werden: The EmpowerHER Program is designed to provide participants with practical financial knowledge paired with a tangible financial tool. Its goal is to empower women to build financial confidence, establish healthy financial habits, and lay the foundation for long-term stability. The program’s curriculum focuses on saving, budgeting strategies, responsible credit use, and long-term financial planning. Participants also benefit from guest speakers on topics such as homeownership and tax preparation, with many women receiving free tax filing assistance through Colorado Credit Union’s partnership with Littleton VITA.
The program is delivered in-person over four weeks on Saturday mornings, providing an interactive, hands-on learning experience. Upon completing the workshops, participants have the opportunity to join Colorado Credit Union and open a savings account, as well as to earn savings incentives.
Savings Competition
To encourage continued saving, a two-month savings competition follows the program. During this period, participants can earn additional incentives every two weeks—four opportunities in total—by maintaining a positive account balance. This approach reinforces the importance of saving and gives participants a concrete step toward financial security.
By the end of the program and savings competition, participants leave with both practical financial knowledge and a financial foundation, equipping them to confidently handle unexpected expenses and work toward their long-term financial goals.
The CU Daily: Do they exit the program with savings in place?
Werden: Yes. Upon graduating from the program, each woman is offered the opportunity to join Colorado Credit Union as a member and open a savings account. As part of the program benefits, Colorado Credit Union covers the cost of the $5 membership share for EmpowerHER graduates and funds the accounts with the savings incentives each woman has earned through the program. Throughout the program and post-program savings competition, each graduate has the opportunity to earn up to $400 for their savings account.
The CU Daily: Who is involved from Colorado Credit Union?
Werden: The EmpowerHER Program is truly a collaborative effort, involving contributions from many Colorado Credit Union departments and staff, including Community Impact, Marketing, Operations, Lending, and IT. From front-line staff to the executive team, numerous employees volunteered their time and expertise. It took hands from across the organization to build and support the program at every stage, reflecting the dedication and teamwork that make EmpowerHER possible.
The CU Daily: What advice might you have for other credit unions?
Werden: Be willing to collaborate. The most successful, long-term partnerships are built on authentic conversations, not on telling others what they need. Focus on creating a foundation of service, not selling, and prioritize understanding and meeting the real needs of your partners and the communities you serve.
