Elevations’ Certified Financial Counselors Enrich Members’ Lives

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on August 20, 2024

Six of Elevations' newest Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors

Fifteen Colo.-based Elevations Credit Union employees recently became Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFCs), bringing the credit union’s total to 24. These employees, who offer members free advice about their personal financial decisions, spend approximately eight weeks reading course materials and attend roughly 18 hours of webinars before taking a monitored and timed 100-question exam. The course helps them understand best financial practices and how to help members implement those practices. 

“This certification helps us show members we want to and are able to help improve their lives,” said Andrew Goudy, an Elevations employee and CCUFC. “It allows us to listen, consult and provide advice at the highest level.”

Course topics include best practices for helping members with financial decisions, financial expertise (everything from how to save to how to talk to collectors and how to manage bankruptcy) and financial attitudes and behaviors. CCUFCs can help members maintain financial stability. 

For example, if someone asks to open a personal loan, a CCUFC can help them understand how a loan can affect the rest of their finances. As a member asks to open a credit card in a branch, a CCUFC can start a conversation about credit utilization and building credit. 

Goudy was one of the first Elevations employees to complete the CCUFC process. Out of all his experiences advising members, he remembers one who wanted a loan but wasn’t eligible. Six months after Goudy counseled her on how to pay down her debt and stabilize her finances, she came back and was approved for the loan. 

Elevations Branch Manager and new CCUFC Sarah Belkin said the certification prepared her to have these in-depth conversations. “We [CCUFCs] can help make it simple to understand how to budget and save,” she said. “I think our members are really going to benefit.” 

Elevations employees volunteer to go through the certification, fitting it in with their regular responsibilities. There isn’t a direct financial incentive for them to seek this certification, but employees take this course to best help members. 

Goudy hopes members see the investment in financial education shows members. “You can trust us, and we are here for you,” he said. 

Elevations plans to take another cohort through the certification process in fall 2024. 

The new CCUFCs are: 

• Sarah Belkin, Boulder Diagonal branch 

• Tres Lacert, Boulder Diagonal branch 

• Catherine Pena, Boulder UMC branch 

• Joseph Woodruff, Fort Collins Harmony branch 

• Candace DaSilva, Fort Collins Old Town branch 

• Jeff Slater, Fort Collins Midtown branch 

• Nicole Pilger, Lafayette branch 

• Kaylee Fontes, Longmont Main branch 

• Mario Castillo, Loveland branch 

• Rebecca Dellamore, Loveland branch 

• Kelli Maes, corporate office 

• Ramon Robinson, corporate office 

Posted in Colorado, Regional Member News.