The Credit Union Difference is people helping people. The Wauna Credit Union difference, is serving our neighbors in Clatsop, Columbia, Western Washington and Pacific Counties. It’s no secret that our area is often impacted more by macroeconomic trends than other areas.
That’s why we’re so happy to announce that we just received a prestigious certification that recognizes the credit union’s efforts to serve the underserved, and allows us increased access to grants.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund recently certified Wauna Credit Union as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This designation is available only to organizations that have proven they provide financial services and products in communities that historically have lacked lack access to traditional banking services. CDFI Certification is granted with the purpose of generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nation’s most distressed communities.
The CDFI Fund was established in 1994 to boost lending and community development through certified CDFI lenders, allowing them to expand their reach into in economically distressed areas and underserved communities. CDFI Certification opens opportunities for institutions to access CDFI Fund grants, which must be used to support financially vulnerable residents and communities.