HOPE will be a key part of the Delta Regional Caucus’ Annual Conference on Thursday and Friday at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. HOPE will be providing insights on issues relating to bank deserts and highlighting progress toward the commitment it made last year at the Clinton Global Initiative America in Chicago.
HOPE joins other Community Development Financial Institutions to address needs in the region and share successful strategies for strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives. HOPE will be addressing its efforts to serve unbanked and underbanked families and communities. Others scheduled to speak at the conference include gubernatorial candidates Asa Hutchinson, Mike Ross, Bill Halter and Curtis Coleman; Gov. Mike Beebe; U.S. Senators John Boozman, R-Ark., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; and U.S. Representatives Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, and Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro.
In a pre-conference announcement HOPE’s accomplishments since the CGI America commitment were highlighted. During that time, HOPE has increased it number of member-owners by more than 4,000, and closed more than 1,300 loans totaling more than $42.6 million. The credit union also established a permanent branch in Utica, Mississippi, after the only bank in the city closed. Additionally, the organization expanded access to underserved communities by launching a new, feature-rich mobile banking application in December that already has more than 1,300 users. HOPE will also be opening a new micro branch Pine Bluff in collaboration with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
See two articles about the event.
- Arkansas News: Over $200 Million in Delta Investments Announced
- Times Record: Caucus Announces More Than $200 Million in Delta Investments
Visit the event’s website: http://www.mdgc.us/