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Personal/Loans
Freedom First Credit Union

Responsible Rides

Personal/Loans
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An Auto Purchase Program for Working Families in the Local Community


Responsible Rides logoAnyone who has driven an unreliable vehicle knows it can limit your ability to earn, spend time with family, and choose your housing, schools, and social activities.

This partnership between Freedom First, TAP in the Roanoke Valley, NRCA in the New River Valley, STEP, Inc. in Franklin County, and multiple auto dealers incorporates financial education and vehicle maintenance classes with our loan product.

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More Than an Auto Loan

Participants purchase a reliable vehicle with a low-interest loan and gain financial management skills to help them reach their goals.

Responsible Rides® helps working families avoid the high interest rates offered by predatory lenders, high down payments, hidden purchase costs, and the limitations caused by a poor credit history. Responsible Rides® includes financial education and vehicle maintenance training. So participants are not only able to purchase a car, they’re able to keep it. 

Our full-time, in-house coordinator has streamlined the lending process for borrowers and coordinates vehicle maintenance classes at our West End branch education room. The coordinator also travels regularly to meet with Franklin County residents. Responsible Rides® has transformed lives, enabling people to own their own car and have reliable means to get to work.


In 2018-2019, Freedom First issued $2,052,746 in Responsible Rides® auto loans to 183 members. 182 children and 49 single parents directly benefited from these loans.


Program Eligibility

For questions and a full list of Responsible Rides® program requirements, please contact our coordinator below.

"I now have transportation, a job, and have established a solid footing — financially and emotionally. Thank you Freedom First Credit Union."
—CeCe M., Responsible Rides® Participant

Learn more about how Responsible Rides® positively impacts our community.
View a full listing of our Products and Services:

Looking for a phone number, address, or other basic info?

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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