Consumers Credit Union Wins Mastercard’s Financial Literacy & Education Award

Consumers is thrilled to announce that we have been recognized by Mastercard® for our unwavering commitment to expanding financial literacy and education within the Spanish-speaking community. This is the fifth year in a row that we have been honored with the esteemed Mastercard Community Institution Segment Award, being one only a select few of financial institutions that have received the award for consecutive years. This year, we received the award in a newly introduced category—Financial Literacy & Education.

In 2024, we launched several initiatives aimed at increasing our cultural outreach and expanding our bilingual capabilities.

Partnered with Velera (formerly PSCU) and their Spanish contact center to improve communication options and live translation backup servicesLaunched a partnership with Ube Hispano, a local non-profit with the mission of fostering business connections and providing education for the Hispanic business communityPartnered with a local school district’s Migrant Education program to provide financial literacy to the children of migrant workers in MichiganIncreased the number of member-facing bilingual employees by 17% from 29 employees to 34 employees during 2024Translated a number of how-to guides and other basic disclosures for key non-English speakers

“Consumers is committed to financial inclusion,” said Credit Card Product Specialist Mohammed Haque. “Mastercard’s recognition is a testament to our commitment to making financial literacy accessible through impactful programs that provide lasting opportunities for our Spanish-speaking members.”

As a result of these efforts, we’ve welcomed 2,400 members whose primary language is not English, including 300 who are enrolled in our Credit Smart program, which aims to give our members the opportunity to build, re-establish or improve credit and learn the best way to use credit responsibly.

“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from Mastercard,” said Language Services Manager Julie Baltmanis. “Our bilingual team plays a crucial role in expanding financial literacy to the Spanish-speaking community by making banking accessible and supporting members toward financial stability.”

We are proud to be part of an elite group of companies that have gained a competitive edge by prioritizing employees as invaluable assets. As we continue to strive for excellence, we remain committed to creating a rewarding and fulfilling work environment for our team.