Work Now, Ride Later in Little Rock, AR

Little Rock native Wanda Shorter attended Eastern College of Health Vocations full time and worked hard to launch a career as a medical assistant. When it came time to buy books, however, she found herself in a bind. Books were expensive, and Ms. Shorter needed a loan to cover the costs of attending school. Finding a lender proved to be tough, though. At just 19 years of age, Ms. Shorter did not have a credit history. Then she turned to HOPE. HOPE worked with Ms. Shorter to develop a short-term plan to purchase the books and a long-term plan to save for future needs. To cover her immediate expenses, Ms. Shorter qualified for one of HOPE’s credit builder products – a Borrow and Save Loan. She borrowed $1,000 – $500 for school and $500 that was deposited in a savings account. Within seven months, Ms. Shorter repaid the loan, had started building a credit history and had $500 earning interest in her savings account. HOPE stood by her side every step of the way. “If I need assistance, or if I have a financial problem, they’ll figure out a solution or a way to help. And they won’t let me walk out the door with my head down.” A second Borrow and Save Loan helped Ms. Shorter with car repairs. Looking ahead, she is building up her savings and her credit to purchase a new car.