AddThis Social Bookmark Button

American International Group, Inc. News

ACCION USA Launches 'Build Your Credit' Seminars in Miami

MIAMI, April 15 PRNewswire — ACCION USA, a pioneer and leader in domestic microfinance, in partnership with American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced the launch of the 'Build Your Credit' campaign — a series of seminars designed to educate immigrants in the Miami metro area about the importance of building credit in the United States, and practical tips and tools to start doing so. The kickoff press conference will be led by Mayor Manny Diaz and City Commissioner Joe Sanchez and will take place at 10:00 A.M., on Wednesday April 16th in ACCION USA's offices, 111 SW 5th Ave, Miami.

Without a credit history, immigrants face a multitude of challenges with everyday transactions and often fall victim to predatory lending practices. A research study conducted by Encuesta, Inc. in July 2007 confirmed a deficiency in financial literacy among immigrants, especially with respect to personal credit. In this nationwide study, only 37 percent of foreign-born Hispanics reported that they had reviewed their credit report and 27 percent reported knowing their credit score.

To address this issue, ACCION USA will hold credit education seminars throughout the metro area from April 16th - July 16th. Seminars will be conducted in Spanish. ACCION USA will also provide qualifying participants with the opportunity to start building a credit history through a unique loan product developed especially for individuals with no credit history.

"We are excited to partner with ACCION USA on this important initiative to help educate immigrants on the responsible use of credit," said Ned Cloonan, Vice President of International and Corporate Affairs for AIG. "Learning and applying good credit practices is a crucial step towards achieving financial independence and security."

The City of Miami mayor, Manny Diaz said, "ACCION USA has made a strong impact in our community by providing immigrants with financial education and tools to start their credit — an important first step towards building a brighter financial future. The city is a proud partner in ACCION's efforts."

The following seminars will be open to the public in Spanish (unless otherwise noted) in:

The City of Miami: Wednesday, April 23rd, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., 4000 Flagler St, West Little Havana Tuesday, April 29th, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 5000 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 110, Little Haiti (In Creole/English) Saturday, May 3rd, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., YWCA of Greater Miami, 351 NW 5th Street Thursday, May 15th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 4000 Flagler St, West Little Havana Thursday, June 19th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 4000 Flagler St, West Little Havana Wednesday, July 9th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 4000 Flagler St, West Little Havana

The City of Hialeah will hold seminars at the Goodlet Theater, 4200 W. 8th Avenue on the following dates:

Thursday, April 24th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Additional information is available from ACCION USA at 1-800-580-7522, http://www.sucredito.org or http://www.yourmoney.accion.org .

About ACCION USA

ACCION USA is a private, nonprofit organization that serves low- and moderate-income individuals, primarily minorities and women, who are unable to access mainstream financial services. A pioneer and recognized leader in the domestic microfinance field, ACCION USA is dedicated to providing microentrepreneurs and individuals on the economic margin with the crucial chance to access capital and develop greater financial literacy. ACCION USA is a member of the U.S. ACCION Network, the largest U.S. microlending network, with over $210 million lent since inception in 1991. ACCION USA loans range from $500-$25,000 and are offered nationwide via the ACCION USA online lending platform. For more information, visit http://www.accionusa.org or http://www.yourmoney.accion.org.

SOURCE ACCION USA

Send this news item to a friend.

Print This Page

Search Our News Using Google Search

Can't find what you want? Try using Google:

Google