Released: May 09, 2011
MoneyWi$e goes to Texas this week
Consumer Action and Capital One Bank sponsor free financial literacy trainings for Houston and McAllen community groups
Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 202-544-3088 / Steven Thorpe, 504-533-2753 | NOTE TO EDITORS: Consumer Action’s financial educators are available locally for interviews in English, Spanish and Chinese. Please call 202-544-3088 for more information.
Houston, Texas – Consumer Action and Capital One Financial Corporation announced today that their joint MoneyWi$e financial literacy partnership will provide a free financial empowerment training seminar for community-based groups in Houston on May 11 and McAllen on May 13.
The Houston seminar will be held at the Hyatt Regency Houston (1200 Louisiana Street) on May 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The McAllen seminar will take place on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McAllen Convention Center, 700 Convention Center Blvd. More than 100 community representatives have signed up to attend the events.
At both seminars, financial educators from Consumer Action will lead training sessions designed to teach local community groups how to educate their clients about money and financial management. The seminars will focus on the fundamentals of financial management including: money management; understanding and rebuilding credit; and financial education, among other topics. At the Houston seminar, Bert Davis, Senior Associate, Financial Education Training, at Capital One, will lead a training session on best practices for teaching adults. In McAllen, Linda Williams, a financial educator from Consumer Action, will lead the session on teaching adults.
“MoneyWi$e has trained more than 3,800 participants since 2001, and these meetings continue to be very popular and in high demand,” said Ken McEldowney, executive director of Consumer Action. “The MoneyWi$e program has equipped numerous nonprofit organizations with the tools and information they need to build solid financial education programs that empower local residents. This partnership is a critical investment in the future of our communities.”
“The MoneyWi$e program continues to positively impact communities across the country by providing the financial literacy skills that consumers need to become better money managers," said Annella Metoyer, Houston Market President for Capital One Bank. “Capital One Bank is committed to working with partners like Consumer Action to invest in financial education programs that help children, teens and adults increase their money management skills through innovative, interactive learning experiences.”
MoneyWi$e: Materials, Training and Online Resources
It has been 10 years since Consumer Action and Capital One launched the MoneyWi$e partnership. In the ensuing decade, the program has produced and distributed a series of MoneyWi$e-branded educational materials to provide consumers with the building blocks for developing and honing their personal finance skills and avoiding fraud. By providing free brochures in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese), the MoneyWi$e program is able to address financial literacy across both income and ethnic barriers.
To date, more than 4,250 community groups have distributed close to five million MoneyWi$e brochures.
In addition, MoneyWi$e has awarded 167 community groups nationwide with mini-grants totaling $726, 075 to help support and supplement local financial literacy programs. Recipient organizations have attended MoneyWi$e train-the-trainer events and use the free, multilingual financial education materials, curricula and teaching aids to reach consumers at all income levels and walks of life.
Capital One and Consumer Action have also partnered on the MoneyWi$e eLearning tool, an interactive financial education tool designed to help promote financial literacy by providing consumers with free access to the information and tools they need to make smart financial choices. The audio-enabled course modules are available in both English and Spanish and offer consumers printable tip sheets, financial calculators, and case studies on a variety of money management topics. Experience the course at:
(You must disable your pop-up blocker to use the course.)
For more information on MoneyWi$e, Consumer Action and Capital One’s unique national financial literacy program, visit the MoneyWi$e web site (www.money-wise.org).
About Consumer Action
Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, Consumer Action focuses on financial education that empowers low to moderate income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change. By providing financial education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, and an Annual Credit Card Survey, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. More than 8,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials, and support.
About Capital One
Capital One Financial Corporation (http://www.capitalone.com/) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A. and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., had $125.4 billion in deposits and $199.3 billion in total assets outstanding as of March 31, 2011. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One, N.A. has approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in Texas, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.
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MoneyWi$e goes to Texas this week (TX_MW_trainings_PR.pdf)
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