Mission and Impact FAQ

What is Self-Help’s mission?

The nonprofit Center for Community Self-Help and its financing affiliates Self-Help Credit Union, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, and Self-Help Ventures Fund provide financing, technical support, consumer financial services and advocacy for those left out of the economic mainstream. Since its founding in 1980, Self-Help has reached out to female, rural and minority communities across North Carolina, in Washington, D.C., California, and many other states.

What makes you different from banks?

In addition to traditional loan and deposit services, we offer our members a variety of other informational resources. For example, we offer a financial education and counseling service that is free to credit union members. Our colleagues at our affiliate Center for Responsible Lending recently released a valuable tool for you as you look at financial institutions- Keep Your Balance: A Shopper’s Guide to Better Banking.

What sort of impact does Self-Help have?

As a non-profit financial institution, we evaluate our success by the impact we have in the communities we serve. As of December 31, 2011 Self-Help has invested $6.08 billion in financing through 74,548 loans to families, individuals, and organizations.

How can I get involved?

Open a deposit account and help fund our mission of economic and social justice. Becoming a member also opens the opportunity to run for a seat on our Board of Directors and to participate in our annual meetings. Learn more about us by registering to receive our quarterly e-newsletter.