Q: Who owns HOPE?
A: HOPE is owned by its members. Credit unions
are co-operative organizations and each member has one vote, unlike
banks where a few individuals may hold the vast majority of the
shares and have greater influence.
Q: I see an
organization called ECD in some places when I read about
HOPE. Who is ECD?
A: ECD (Enterprise
Corporation of the Delta) is HOPE's sponsor. ECD is
a community development financial institution whose mission is to
strengthen communities, build assets, and improve lives in
economically distressed areas of the Mid South. Credit unions
are required to have some sort of associational bond for members
and ECD provides that for HOPE.
Q: Do I have to work at
a certain company or be a member of a particular group to join HOPE?
A: Everyone is eligible to join
hope. As a community develop credit union, our field of membership
is not limited to any particular group or geography.
Q: I have some credit
problems. Can HOPE still help me?
A: HOPE can open an account for
anyone, regardless of past credit or banking history. We do review
credit and banking records and the information those contain may
affect the type of account for which you are eligible. Members who
do receive non-preferred accounts for this reason are eligible to
upgrade to other products if their account remains in good standing
for a specified period of time.
Q: Does HOPE provide
grants?
A: HOPE is a credit union that
makes loans to our members. We do not make grants or other gifts of
money to individuals or organizations.
Q: I'm trapped in a
relationship with a predatory financial institution. What should I
do?
A: Contact HOPE to discuss your situation.
We can often provide information that will help you make smart
choices and may be able to find a financial solution with one of
our products or
services.