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Personal/Services
Freedom First Credit Union

Financial Education

Personal/Services
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Empowering Smart Financial Decisions


Freedom First has been offering free Financial Education and personalized financial counseling for nearly a decade.


It is an unlimited, no-cost service for Freedom First members with the ultimate goal of long-term financial stability and success for participants. The sessions, both one-on-one and group workshops, focus on goal setting, asset building, debt management, credit repair/establishment, spending plans, and banking best practices.

Financial counseling services will continue to be offered to Freedom First members at no-cost through the Roanoke Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). The Roanoke FEC offers professional, one-on-one financial counseling at no-cost to Roanoke area residents. Our certified financial counselors can assist with money management, budgeting, reducing debt, establishing and improving credit, connecting to safe and affordable banking services, building savings, and referrals to other services and organizations. 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.

To schedule a no-cost session with one of our certified Financial Counselors, visit www.roanokefec.org or contact counseling@roanokefec.org.

If you have a general question about your Freedom First account, please contact us at (866) 389-0244.


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

Young laughing couple standing against a neutral wall Birdseye view of two people at a table reviewing a report next to an open laptop Young woman browsing on laptop next to sketch of ascending bar graph
1. A nonjudgmental experience tailored to your needs
2. A soft pull of your credit report and score
3. A personalized action plan based on your goals

A Partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness

Freedom First is proud to provide free in-person financial coaching, and we also understand that some members would benefit from additional options to fit their busy lives. That’s why we’ve partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness to offer even more extended financial counseling opportunities.

GreenPath is a national nonprofit provider established in 1961 and assists over 200,000 people each year helping them eliminate debt, improve credit, and build budgets that work for them.

This partnership allows you to have access to expanded services that include:

Smiling woman talking on cell phone More hours: Financial coaching sessions available by phone until 10 PM Monday-Thursday, until 7 PM on Friday, and from 9 AM until 6 PM on Saturdays.
Two people sitting at a desk brainstorming about finance 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.
Man playing tennis Specialized coaching: Experts on staff can help you with Student Loan, Bankruptcy, and Reverse Mortgage Counseling.
Collection of foreign language dictionaries Language access: Expanded Spanish speaking services and coaching available in 170 languages.
Smiling woman looking at tablet Self-study resources: Head to greenpath.com/university to find e-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.

National Recognition

The Wall Street Journal and MetLife Foundation recognized our financial education program in a documentary video:


Freedom First’s nationally-recognized financial education has won multiple awards: 


  • 2015 National Winner: Alphonse Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award (CUNA)

  • 2016 National Runner-up: Alphonse Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award (CUNA)

  • State Level Winner (Virginia) 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
View a full listing of our Products and Services:

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Our calculators can help you figure out your personal finances and set savings goals. 

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Assess your credit as "Good," "Fair," or "Needs Improvement."

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See what it will take to pay off your credit card balance.

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Determine whether or not debt consolidation is right for you.

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Determine how much emergency savings you may need, and how you can begin saving.
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See how much you have left to save and where your money is being spent.

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Find out how much you owe to get started on a debt management plan.

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What will it take to reach your financial goal? This calculator helps you find out.
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See how consolidating your student loans can help you pay off high interest debt sooner.


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