The Financial Empowerment Center offers professional, one-on-one financial counseling at no-cost to people who live and work in Southwest and Central Virginia. Our certified financial counselors can assist you in English or Spanish with:

  • Money management
  • Budgeting
  • Reducing debt
  • Establishing and improving credit
  • Connecting to safe and affordable banking services
  • Building savings
  • Referrals to other services and organizations
  • And more

When you attend a free one-on-one coaching session, you'll receive:

1. A non-judgmental experience tailored to your needs

2. A soft inquiry of your credit report and score (which means it will NOT impact your score)

3. A personalized action plan based on your goals

We are proud to partner with the City of Roanoke and Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund to bring this important service not only to Freedom First members but to our greater community.

Schedule a no-cost, one-on-one session with one of our certified Financial Counselors:

Online: e3endeavors.org/fec

Email: education@freedomfirst.com

Phone: (540) 378-8928

Freedom First has partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness to offer extended financial counseling support.

Extended hours: Financial coaching sessions are available by phone during these times:

  • Monday - Thursday: 8 AM - 10 PM (EST)
  • Friday: 8 AM - 8 PM (EST)
  • Saturday: 9 AM - 6 PM (EST)
Over 170 languages: Coaching services and resources are available in Spanish, and phone support is also available to over 170 other languages.

Obtenga asesoramiento crediticio hoy mismo: llame al 866-529-2772 para hablar con un asesor. Lo atenderán con amabilidad y respeto y en español, si lo desea.
Specialized coaching: Experts on staff can help you with Student Loan, Bankruptcy, and Reverse Mortgage Counseling.
Debt management plan: Members who are experiencing struggles with current debt get a clear picture of their options. Those who qualify can enroll in a specialized debt management plan which could enable you to pay off debt quicker while saving money in reduced interest charges.
Self-study resources: Head to GreenPath's LearningLab to find free online learning modules, webinars, articles, and other resources on the topics you care about.
To get connected with GreenPath, you can call them directly at (877) 337-3399. If you prefer to learn more about GreenPath from one of Freedom First's financial coaches first, please call (540) 378-8928.
Studies show that personal finance issues are cited as one of the leading causes of stress in the workplace. Whether that be keeping up with bills, juggling dependent or elder care, tackling medical or student loan debt, saving for retirement, or simply addressing questions about personal finance - Freedom@Work can help empower your employees to achieve financial wellness.

Freedom First's Freedom@Work Program will bring financial expertise, knowledge, and services directly to your workplace as a benefit to your employees. 

Benefits include:

  • Free on-site financial education sessions, seminars, and more

  • Confidential, judgment-free one-on-one financial counseling sessions through the Financial Empowerment Center (in English, Spanish, or with the assistance of an interpreter for other languages) at no cost
 
 
  • And more!
If you are a business, nonprofit, or school/education center looking for group workshops centered around personal finance topics, please fill out the form below to request a session.

We can tailor the content to your needs, so please include as much detail as possible! If you are unsure of what to include, you can contact education@freedomfirst.com.

GreenPath Financial Wellness offers a wide variety of free self-study tools, including:

We encourage you to make the most of these free tools on your financial wellness journey!





FEC counselor meeting with a client

Speak to an expert.

The Financial Empowerment Center is available to anyone in our region at no cost to them, even if you're not a member of Freedom First.

The professionally-trained counselors work with you in a judgment-free environment to achieve your financial goals.

Young professional woman in a suit using her smartphone

Manage your budget from your phone

Our Money Manager tool lets you manage your budget, set goals and alerts, and view the full financial picture - all right from your Online/Mobile Banking!

Request Financial Education from our Team

If you are a business or nonprofit wanting classroom-style financial education classes or other kinds of tailored content, please fill out this form to make a request of our financial education team.

Financial Well-Being Impacts Everyone

No matter where you are in life, you could benefit from a boost in financial well-being.