People Are More Than a Credit Score

Sometimes it’s a community need. Sometimes it’s a fresh start. Sometimes it’s a second chance. When people look around for help, they can find Southwest Louisiana Credit Union there.

The member-owned, not-for-profit Southwest Louisiana Credit Union is a regional force for good to meet and support community needs. And in many ways, Southwest Louisiana Credit Union serves in the same valuable ways that traditional nonprofit agencies do.

Southwest Louisiana Credit Union offers a complete range of banking services to its members. It’s a financial cooperative institution founded in 1952 as PPG Employees Credit Union that currently serves more than 18,000 members with six branch locations.

“We believe in meeting people where they are on their financial journey and providing the educational backing to create sustainable lifestyles,” Director of Community Engagement Makeitta Citizen said. “We believe that bad things happen to good people, and you are more than a credit score.”

SWLACU is the only credit union in Southwest Louisiana that is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). CDFIs are mission-driven banking institutions that have a goal of expanding economic opportunity in low-income communities by providing products and services to residents and businesses. The CDFI designation means the not-for-profit SWLACU can serve the area with:

Micro-Business Lending

SWLACU offers financial products to help entrepreneurs with financing of equipment, inventory startup, commercial real-estate loans, construction, and development loans; credit lines; debt consolidation loan; and refinancing of business collateral.

Financial Empowerment Microbranch

A partnership with the SWLA Center for Health Services addresses barriers the north Lake Charles community faces as a “financial desert,” such as lack of access to healthcare, food, banking, and transportation.

Homeownership Financing

SWLACU works with local community partners and city and parish government to identify, counsel, and develop potential low-income households for homeownership financing. It also offers pre- and post-homeownership education classes.

“Southwest Louisiana Credit Union is committed to supporting education and investing in the future of students in the Southwest Louisiana community,” said CEO Chad Miller. Efforts including hosting and attending local back-to-school events and gives out food, shoes, and other essentials.

The annual Back-to-School Community Resource Fair at the SWLA Center for Health Services featured its “Shoes for School” promotion, more than 200 snack sacks and participation by a dozen local service agencies. “Interacting with the community in this way reminds us of our ‘why’ and demonstrates that what we do is so much more than deposits and loans,” said director of community engagement Makeitta Citizen. “It’s about providing for the needs of the people in our area and building a reputation for serving and caring for our communities.”

Their award-winning Southwest Smart STARS Student Achievement Rewards program recognizes and rewards the achievements of local students with “Star Bucks” based on academic performance, attendance, and community involvement. “Star Bucks” can be redeemed for gift cards, electronics, or cash.

It’s also a major supporter of McNeese State University — as the official credit union of McNeese Athletics.

Southwest Louisiana Credit Union opened its full-service South Beauregard branch this year at 12781 Highway 171 in Longville — its first location in Beauregard Parish to provide convenient access to financial resources and services in the community.

“This expansion into Beauregard Parish is another opportunity for us to reach our goal of financial empowerment for all and eliminating poverty in Southwest Louisiana,” Miller said. “We are excited to serve this community and grow here.”