FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alice Coday, Financial Empowerment Network | Seattle-King County (NETWORK),
206.251.7705, acoday@everyoneiswelcome.org
The Financial Empowerment Network | Seattle-King County
Recognizes Local Banks and Credit Unions for Contributions Assisting
Unbanked and Underbanked Households.
Tukwila, Washington – June 12, 2014 –The Financial Empowerment Network l SeattleKing County announced at their June meeting held at King County Housing Authority
nominations made by local nonprofit agencies for bank/credit union branches and/or staff
who provided exceptional service to clients referred by them who were unbanked or
under banked. Laura Fletcher, Washington C.A.S.H. and Bank On Seattle-King County CoChair announced the nominations made by Jennifer Quiróz, YWCA Economic Resilience
Initiative; Tina Houston, Seattle Financial Empowerment Center; James To, 21 Progress;
Rosie Cullen, YMCA of Greater Seattle and Becky House, American Financial Solutions.
Awards went to:
 Mike Mathews, Banner Bank
 Hugo Garcia, Plaza Bank
 Martin Vallen, Express Advantage
 Alma Daniel, Express Credit Union
 Rosario Arias de Carroll, Plaza Bank
 Christina Conley, US Bank
 HomeStreet Bank
In addition, five bank/credit union coaches were recognized for their participation in a
pilot Bank On Practicum that is now part of a course offered at North Seattle Community
College in partnership with the City of Seattle. The practicum matches students with
bank/credit union staff to increase student awareness of banking. With support from the
Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the CFE Fund and City University of New York
developed course, has been modified to fit the specific learning needs of counselors
working at the new Seattle Financial Empowerment Center. This course is now available to
all case managers, counselors and front-line bank/credit union employees.
Bank Coaches Recognized:
 Gina Landola - HomeStreet Bank
 Steve Kim - KeyBank
 Carmen Marttila – KeyBank
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Ruth Ridgeway - BECU
Emily McKenna - KeyBank
Additional recognitions went to HomeStreet Bank, KeyBank, BECU and WellsFargo who
demonstrated their commitment by providing funding that allowed Seattle-King County
residents access to a diverse array of financial resources on March 22, 2014 as sponsors of
Financial Resource Day.
The 4th annual Financial Resource Day held on March 22, 2014 was a one day event that
combined workshops, one-on-one counseling, and other financial services, offered by a
wide array of Financial Empowerment Network participating organizations. This
community-wide benefit featured credit and debt counseling, financial planning and
investment advice, credit reports, free tax preparation, access to public benefits, housing
counseling, document shredding to prevent ID theft, legal assistance on bankruptcy and
consumer rights, help with FAFSA applications, education and employment resources,
Veterans Services, and advice on building a growing a business.
About the Financial Empowerment Network | Seattle-King County
The Financial Empowerment Network l Seattle-King County is a collaborative of community
organizations who together are working to create a cohesive and comprehensive system of
high-quality, accessible financial empowerment services and network throughout King
County– connecting low-income and working people with the services they need, when
they need them, to achieve their financial goals. For more information, go to
www.everyoneiswelcome.org.
About Bank On Seattle-King County
Bank on Seattle-King County is a major public-private initiative of the Financial
Empowerment Network l Seattle-King and part of a national movement to connect people
without bank accounts to affordable mainstream financial services, including checking,
savings, credit, and financial education opportunities.
JoinBankOn.org defines unbanked as having no checking or savings account. Underbanked
is defined as having an account, but continues to rely on alternative financial services, like
checking-cashing services, payday loans, rent-to-own agreements or pawn shops.
For more information on Bank On programs, go to www.joinbankon.org.
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