City Of Tulsa: Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

Press release from the City of Tulsa:

12/10/2021

Today, the Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) celebrates one year since launching the first center of its kind in Tulsa that offers one-on-one financial counseling at no cost.  

"Thanks to the FEC I've been able to set manageable financial goals, and I no longer feel anxious when I check my bank account balance,” said Bria Brown-King, an FEC client. 

Since its launch on December 10, 2020, FEC financial counselors have helped more than 170 clients and held nearly 500 sessions. Because of the program, clients have built $57,397 in savings and reduced their debt by $31,866. 

“The City of Tulsa is part of a network of cities that are embedding financial empowerment in city services and in communities. We are proud to offer a service that is for everyone – individuals, families, college students, small business owners, retirees, and everything in between,” said Krystal Reyes, the Chief Resilience Officer at the City of Tulsa. “And we look forward to growing the program in year two to serve more Tulsans and deepen our partnerships.” 

The City of Tulsa, along with Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, are celebrating this milestone with the dozens of local partners who help spread the word of the FEC and make referrals to the program. The FEC is part of the Resilient Tulsa Strategy to help Tulsans build financial resilience.  

“Goodwill Tulsa is honored to be the nonprofit partner with the City of Tulsa in the Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center,” said Karla Davis, Goodwill Tulsa’s Vice President of Administration. “This first year has brought many opportunities for FEC Counselors to help our neighbors meet their financial goals. We are looking forward to the second year of service; of making financial counseling available to more of our neighbors who need some direction and accountability to reach their financial goals and become more financially resilient.” 

The one-on-one virtual and in-person sessions are unique to the client and their personal financial goals, including increasing future savings, reducing debt, opening a bank account, establishing and improving credit and much more.  

Counselors are available to provide services in English, Spanish, Zopau and in other languages through Language Line. 

FEC funders include Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Bank of Oklahoma, Green Country Workforce, Community Development Block Grant, Birth Through Eight Strategy for Tulsa and the City of Tulsa’s Coronavirus Relief Funds. 

For more information about the FEC and to schedule an appointment with a financial counselor at no cost, visit: www.goodwilltulsa.org/fec or call (918) 802-7279. 

This press release was produced by the City of Tulsa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.