Regions Bank and Operation HOPE are opening a HOPE Inside financial empowerment office based at Regions’ branch at 4800 W. Main in Belleville to provide free financial education, as well as credit and money management counseling, to individuals, families and business owners in the Metro East.
The announcement was made at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis during an event hosted by Regions and featuring East St. Louis Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks. Regions maintains a branch presence in East St. Louis.
“This partnership between Operation HOPE and Regions Bank is about leveling the playing field for people who are working to improve their credit, reduce their debt, manage their finances, and reach their long-term goals,” Jackson-Hicks said.
“Counselors from HOPE Inside connect with people one-on-one. They identify with you. They understand how difficult financial challenges can be. And they have the experience needed to help you go from where you are today – to where you want to be in the future.”
Regions’ opened its first Midwest HOPE Inside office in St. Louis in 2015.
“And since then, we have seen lives changed,” said Mike Hart, Midwest Market executive for Regions Bank. “I am confident the benefits we have seen in Missouri and elsewhere will also be seen in the Metro East as local families and business owners are given the insights, advice and guidance they need to grow and prosper financially.”
Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer John Hope Bryant has family connections to the Metro East; his mother grew up in East St. Louis.
“Imagine the difference this will make when people improve their credit scores by 100 points or more,” Bryant said.
Ryan Moore, a certified financial wellbeing coach from Operation HOPE, will also deliver financial education at other Metro East locations based on client and community needs.
“HOPE Inside helps people learn how to make sound financial decisions and create a personalized roadmap toward achieving their dreams,” Moore said. “Further, this program is here to help prospective business owners turn their ideas for a new company into reality. And we’re here to help existing business owners navigate the financial challenges a small company might face.”
Moore’s areas of focus include helping people improve their credit scores, understand and use credit wisely, strengthen their overall financial management skills, and become better prepared to achieve homeownership, avoid foreclosure or reach other financial goals. For small-business owners, HOPE Inside offers entrepreneurial training covering issues ranging from accounting and financial management to marketing, business plan development and more.
Services are available to people regardless of whether they are Regions customers. The program is also available to people who have no bank account at all.
People who are interested in HOPE counseling in the Metro East can contact Ryan Moore at 618-250-1412 or at ryan.moore@operationhope.org.
For more information on Operation HOPE, visitwww.OperationHOPE.org.
