Press Releases

Advancing financial inclusion in Hispanic and immigrant communities 

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2024 – Inclusiv and Cornerstone League are proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate the Cornerstone Juntos Avanzamos program into the National Juntos Avanzamos program led by Inclusiv. Caroline Willard, president and CEO of Cornerstone, and Cathie Mahon, president and CEO of Inclusiv, signed the MOU at Inclusiv’s Juntos Avanzamos Roundtable at America’s Credit Unions’ Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), uniting both programs under Inclusiv’s leadership. As part of the agreement, both organizations will launch an initiative directed to support Cornerstone footprint credit unions, providing best practices and assistance to expand their financial inclusion initiatives.

Launched by the Cornerstone League in 2005 as an immigrant outreach program within a financial inclusion framework, Juntos Avanzamos was designed to help credit unions attract and serve the growing Hispanic market in Texas and Oklahoma. In 2015, Inclusiv and Cornerstone League signed an MOU to expand the program to all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, creating the Juntos Avanzamos National program. 

Today, Juntos Avanzamos is a program and designation for credit unions committed to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers. To date, 137 credit unions serving 11.6 million member-owners in 31 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico hold the Juntos Avanzamos designation, helping Hispanic and immigrant Americans navigate the U.S. financial system and providing safe, affordable, and relevant financial services.

“We recognize that there’s a need to ensure that credit unions are serving this community in a robust manner,” said Willard. “We were glad to have incubated that and brought it to its current stage so it can go national.”

“The Juntos Avanzamos National Program has grown substantially since 2015 and has garnered the support of the credit union movement,” said Mahon. “Cornerstone’s leadership in creating Juntos Avanzamos and partnership with Inclusiv have been key to growing Juntos Avanzamos into the success it is today. We are excited for the opportunities this integration will bring to continue to promote positive change in the credit union movement and remove barriers for the financial inclusion of all communities.”

Cornerstone will hold two seats on the Juntos Avanzamos advisory committee and will continue to provide support and assistance to Inclusiv.

About Inclusiv
Founded in 1974, Inclusiv empowers its member credit unions to advance financial inclusion through advocacy, education, technology, and impact investment.

Inclusiv is a certified CDFI intermediary instrumental in driving private and public investment in credit unions to build wealth for individuals, households, businesses, and communities formerly excluded from the financial mainstream. 

About Cornerstone League
Cornerstone League is among the nation’s largest regional credit union trade associations, serving approximately 600 credit unions in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Cornerstone exists to advance the success of credit unions in the region through legislative and grassroots advocacy; regulatory and compliance support; training, educational, and networking opportunities; essential communications related to news and information affecting the credit union industry; and other products and services that establish Cornerstone as the essential partner for credit unions. For more information, visit cornerstoneleague.coop.