Credit unions have always served as neighborhood anchors built on trust, empathy, and the belief that financial services should work for people, not the other way around.
Today, as Americans face rising costs, financial shocks, and an overwhelming range of choices, your role as a guide and advocate matters more than ever. And one of the most powerful ways you continue to fulfill that mission is by addressing the widespread lack of financial education.
In fact, the credit union ethos positions you perfectly to help members strengthen their financial literacy.
For 25 years, Bridgeforce has made a positive impact on the credit union world, recognizing their unique capacity to serve many different communities. We believe that the availability of financial literacy education plays a key role in the continued success of credit unions nationwide.
The majority of Americans leave school without a solid understanding of credit, budgeting, or how to navigate financial setbacks. A 2025 EVERFI Inc survey found that only 32% of high school juniors and seniors felt confident managing credit and maintaining good credit. The result? They turn to their trusted financial partner for guidance.
While states like California and Florida have kicked off a trend of state-level mandates requiring credit education with certain loans, credit unions carry the banner of aid to members. They prove time and again that member support isn’t just about transactions, but rather life moments. When someone is navigating job loss, medical expenses, retirement planning, or transitioning from military service, that person’s credit union looks past the account balance to understand the story.
Financial literacy is like an extension of the credit union model in that way. It gives members practical tools to make informed decisions today while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges. Whether it’s reading a credit report, setting up a household budget, or planning for a major life transition, the knowledge gained becomes a safety net.
Many credit unions serve communities with unique financial realities: military families adjusting to civilian life, educators balancing multiple income streams, or young families facing student debt alongside childcare costs.
As a credit union professional, you already hear their concerns in branch conversations and call center interactions. You already see the stress behind the numbers. Financial literacy programs simply give you one more way to meet those moments with empathy, clarity, and action.
Not all financial literacy programs are created equal. Many are dense, difficult to navigate, or too generic to be truly useful. The best programs work the way credit unions work – meeting members where they are. That means:
When built this way, financial literacy becomes less about “checking a box” and more about deepening the trust you’ve already earned.
We’ve seen credit unions integrate financial literacy into their outreach in remarkable ways:
These are just a few examples of how education becomes another way to say, “We’re here to help you.”
At Bridgeforce, we’ve partnered with CBS Academy to build programs that fit seamlessly into your existing member support approach: cost-effective, quick to implement, and respectful of your brand. They’re not here to replace the good work you’re already doing, but to amplify it.
For members, that means a 15-minute course that ends with a certificate and practical next steps. For your staff, it’s education that builds empathy and effectiveness in supporting members through challenging times.
As you already know, when your members thrive, so does the community you’ve worked so hard to protect.
Launching a financial literacy initiative is straightforward. Credit unions can reach out to Bridgeforce to explore demos, pilot the content with staff or members, and customize the experience to align with the credit union’s brand. Or fill out our form here to indicate your interest. From there, it’s as simple as sharing a link and tracking engagement.
Credit unions have always been champions of people over profits. Financial literacy is simply another way to carry that torch, by helping your members make confident decisions, weather financial storms, and build a better future.
Reach out to get started today with your own Financial Literacy demo account.