Culture and belonging are core tenants that guide credit unions across the movement. Freedom First echoes these principles as laid out by America's Credit Unions:
 
"[W]e are building a workplace culture where everyone thrives. We’re not just passionate about creating a workplace culture where everyone feels included and valued, has opportunities to grow, and has a sense of belonging—we're committed to it. We truly appreciate and respect each team member's unique backgrounds, perspectives, and talents. This commitment to our staff keeps our team engaged at the highest levels, allowing us to bring our best to our members."
 
As a Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to financial inclusion for all, remaining committed to these principles is right in step with our mission of Helping People Prosper - Helping Communities Thrive and Financial Well-Being for All.
 
Juntos AvanzamosAs a part of these initiatives, Freedom First is proud to be recognized as a Juntos Avanzamos credit union by Inclusiv. Our team is dedicated to building capacity and valuable resources to serve Spanish speakers in their language of choice so they can make fully-informed, empowering financial decisions.
Freedom First established volunteer committees comprised of employees from diverse backgrounds, careers, and perspectives. The purpose of these groups is to support the credit union's commitment to sustain a supportive, welcoming environment that promotes belonging, mutual respect, and opportunity among teammates.
 
These groups are tasked with identifying opportunities to communicate, advocate, empower, and educate employees for the promotion of these values.
A group of passionate Freedom First employees formed a working group dedicated to building and expanding welcoming banking services for all walks of life in our vibrant community. 

In its first year, the group - consisting of majority bilingual or multilingual employees - focused on bringing Spanish language services to the credit union. This group researched, collaborated, and began implementing their plan, ultimately leading to Freedom First's Juntos Avanzamos designation from Inclusiv (see more information about that below!).

The work of this committee has just begun, and they will continue to build out our capacity and resources for the Spanish-speaking community while also looking ahead to other areas in which the credit union can concentrate efforts.
Juntos Avanzamos – Together We Advance – is a designation for credit unions committed to serving and empowering Latino and Hispanic consumers. 

Juntos Avanzamos (“Together We Advance”) is a designation for credit unions committed to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers – helping them navigate the U.S. financial system and providing safe, affordable and relevant financial services. Juntos Avanzamos credit unions employ bilingual, culturally-competent staff and leadership, accept alternative forms of ID and treat all of their members with respect, regardless of immigration status. 

¿Qué es Juntos Avanzamos?
Juntos Avanzamos – Together We Advance - es una designación que se otorga a las cooperativas de crédito comprometidas a servir y educar a los consumidores hispanos. Juntos Avanzamos fue creado por la Liga Cornerstore de Credit Unions como un programa de difusión de inmigrantes en Texas. 

¿Qué puede hacer Juntos Avanzamos por mí?
Las cooperativas Juntos Avanzamos están aquí para ayudarle a navegar el sistema financiero de los Estados Unidos y para darle las herramientas que necesita para alcanzar sus metas y construir un futuro seguro para usted y su familia.











At Freedom First, we measure our value by how much we give back.