Self-Help Shares

Congratulations to the 23 students (18 shown above) who recently received a Self-Help Credit Union scholarship! A winner was selected from each of our branch offices in North Carolina and Virginia as well as from Jax Metro, our credit union in Florida. All of the scholarship recipients have demonstrated a commitment to service and building stronger communities.

Wednesday, May 23 was a bustling day at 601 South Mangum Street in Durham as the Self-Help CU branch held a grand re-opening to celebrate brand new renovations. All morning cars pulled up in the parking lot and the front door swung open constantly.  Some people came for free shredding or to recycle electronics. Many came for a special ribbon-cutting, led by Durham Mayor Steve Schewel.

Through shredding and speeches and all the hubbub, our members came in to do their everyday business: making deposits, cashing checks, talking to a loan officer about a loan.

Self-Help's latest annual report is now available! The report covers 2017 activities and impact of Self-Help Credit Union, Self-Help Federal Credit Union and the Center for Responsible Lending. 

Last week students from Durham Public Schools’ Scholars-at-Work participated in a workplace immersion at Self-Help’s offices in downtown Durham, NC. Activities included tours of Self-Help headquarters and development sites, learning about home lending, commercial real estate financing and maintaining good credit.  The Scholars-at-Work Program is a four-day workplace immersion experience at participating companies for DPS Career & Technical Education students in grades 10-12. 

Self-Help Credit Union is now accepting applications for $500 Community Scholarships. Deadline is April 30, 2018.

Since 2015, each Self-Help branch has awarded Community Scholarships to students with a proven commitment to community service. We offer these scholarships to encourage winners to continue to have a positive impact on their communities.

Applications are available at each branch Self-Help branch office and on our website. All applications must be submitted by April 30, 2018. 

Credit Builder borrower Aubert Semon takes Oath of Allegiance during 2018 Naturalization Ceremony.

Increasing your credit score is the first step for many borrowers hoping to qualify for loans to buy homes or start a new business. It's easy to get mired in debt, and it can be hard to get out. At Self-Help, we offer a Credit Builder loan that helps members establish or build stronger credit while building savings, too.  

One of our members, Aubert Semon, is among many who have benefited from a Credit Builder loan. Recently Aubert agreed to talk about his experience with Stephanie Diane Ford, who works on Self-Help's communications team. 

When you qualify for a tax refund, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can deposit the funds directly into a checking or savings account. This is the safest way to receive the money—but only if the Internal Revenue Service has accurate information. If your account number has changed recently, or if you have any uncertainty about your account information, please call us to verify before filing your taxes. 

By itself, the story of Seaway Bank is remarkable. The bank, opened on the South Side of Chicago in 1965, became one of the largest black-owned banks in America before joining Self-Help last year. Seaway's history is the central story I set out to tell as the producer of Seaway’s legacy documentary.

At the same time, I think the success of Seaway Bank is all the more impactful in the context of many other examples of Black Chicago greatness.

A panel of growers and producers from the eastern part of the state shared their experience at the Wilmington, NC event.

These days it is becoming easier to find locally grown foods in restaurants and grocery stores, but that doesn’t mean the path from farm to table is smooth. Last week Self-Help hosted an event in Wilmington, NC where farmers, seafood producers, food distributors and some of NC’s leading rural and food policy experts discussed the challenges and potential solutions.

Nana Manso (left) with his associate, Anthony Bui, on a job site. Ten years ago Nana received a Self-Help business loan of $8,000. As Nana’s business has grown, Self-Help’s loans have grown, too. Photo by Ricky Leung.

If you follow Self-Help success stories, you might recognize Nana Manso (shown above). For the past decade, we’ve been privileged to witness and support Nana’s success as an entrepreneur. Beginning in 2008 with a microloan, Nana has continued to leverage Self-Help financing to build his business, most recently with a $520,000 loan financed in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.