Underserved Communities

Making A Real Impact in Underserved Communities

For nearly a century, Minnesota’s credit unions have made a difference in underserved communities across the country by providing critical financial services to people banks overlook.

Credit unions believe everybody deserves a shot at the American dream. The systematic inequalities that adversely affect communities of color need to be addressed. Credit unions believe access to financial services, stability, and peace of mind should not be limited by where someone lives, the color of their skin, their gender, what they do for a living, or the language they speak.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives set up to serve the specific needs of members. They focus on people’s financial health and wellness - not on big profits for Wall Street investors.

Nearly 50% of credit unions have a specific focus on serving low-income communities—providing affordable interest loans, higher savings yields, and lower fees. Minnesota’s credit unions create competition in underserved communities forcing banks to offer more services at better prices to customers. Credit unions also ensure more consumers have access to core financial services so they aren’t victimized by payday lenders, pawn lenders, and currency exchanges charging predatory interest rates and excessive transaction fees.