Members came in hoping to find their daughter a reliable but inexpensive vehicle—around $2,500—to get her back and forth to college. They shared that their credit probably wasn’t very good, but they wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help. After submitting the application, I was happy to tell them their […]

Two years had passed when I received a phone call from a woman interested in an auto loan. As we talked through the details, she shared that her husband had sent her to us because he knew we would be a good fit to help her. As the conversation continued, everything began to come together, […]

One of the most impactful experiences I have had as a Member Advocate at Suncoast Credit Union was helping a family navigate a significant financial hardship. The member was facing over $1,500 in combined monthly credit card and auto loan payments, making it nearly impossible to keep up with expenses. To make matters more challenging, […]

A member came into my office in early October to discuss her current financial situation with revolving credit. She felt a great deal of shame and embarrassment sharing that her credit card debt had reached more than $22,000. She had fallen ill the year before and, unfortunately, had to rely on her credit card to […]

One of the families we had the privilege of serving this year came to us during an incredibly vulnerable season of life. They were a hardworking family who had always managed to stay afloat, but a series of medical crises pushed them into a position they never anticipated. The husband had been hospitalized for nearly […]

This experience involved two members, a married couple, who sought financial counseling through CSE to maintain their budget while living on a fixed income. The couple had been facing financial strain due to medical expenses and home repairs, all while preparing for their daughter to move out of their home. She had been contributing financially […]