Press Releases
July 20th, 2011
Join HOPE: A Community-Owned Financial Institution Every community needs and deserves access to affordable, responsible financial services. But in today’s changing banking environment, many people are feeling abandoned as loans are hard to come by, and banks are shutting down branches in many towns. At Hope Credit Union, we understand your concern and are committed to working with you to forge solutions for the families and businesses in your community. HOPE is beginning to open accounts in Utica to meet banking needs in the area. By joining HOPE, you become a member-owner of one of the nation’s most respected financial institutions. Started in 1995 by members of a Jackson Mississippi church as an alternative to payday lenders, cash-checking stores and pawn shops, HOPE has grown into a regional community development financial institution that serves underbanked people throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. HOPE combines the security of federal insurance with high quality products and a mission of strengthening communities, building assets and improving lives. HOPE Products and Services No matter what your financial goals are, HOPE offers an account that is right for you. Our full line of affordable, responsible, convenient products and services gives you more for your money by letting you do so much more with your money. Checking and Savings Accounts Kasasa Accounts (Earn Massive Interest!) Money Market Accounts Traditional and Roth IRAs Certificates of Deposit ATM Network Debit and Credit Cards Online Banking Mobile & Telephone Banking Small Business Loans Consumer Loans Mortgage Loans Financial Counseling Visit With HOPE Stop by and see us at the Utica City Hall to learn more about us and how we can help you. Wednesdays and Thursdays – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Become a Member Today! Joining HOPE is easy and allows you to take advantage of all the products and services the credit union offers. To open an account, you will need: Two forms of ID Proof of Address (if current address is different than shown on ID) Check or Money Order (no cash, please) for: Lifetime Membership Fee: $10 Initial Deposit: Minimum $15 in a basic savings account Deposits for any additional accounts you wish to open
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July 19th, 2011
For Immediate Release Contact: Scot Slay July 18, 2011 Phone: (601) 944-4175 Email: sslay@hope-ec.org HOPE Receives $1.5 Million to Support Community Development in Mid South CDFI Is in Top Allocation Tier Jackson, Miss—HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) has received an allocation of $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. HOPE will use the funds to help spur economic growth and recovery, as well as expand access to affordable financial products and services. The awards are being made through the fiscal year 2011 round of the CDFI Fund’s cornerstone program, the Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program), and represent the largest single round of monetary awards in the CDFI Fund’s history. HOPE received of highest award amount available during this round of funding. Hope was the only organization in Mississippi and Tennessee, one of three in Arkansas, and one of six in Louisiana to receive an award. “HOPE has worked hard to become one of the nation’s most effective CDFIs, and we are excited to receive this funding based on the merits of our plan to use it here in the Mid South,” said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum. “While other financial institutions have restricted lending, HOPE continues to see strong demand, and we are providing financial resources to small businesses, homebuyers and working families.” CDFI Fund Director Donna J. Gambrell joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S Representative Danny Davis to announce awards totaling $142,302,667 for 155 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving economically distressed communities across the nation. The organizations awarded are headquartered in 40 states and the District of Columbia. “Every community deserves to have access to basic financial products and services, from bank accounts to affordable home and car loans. The CDFI Program provides access to rural and urban communities across the country by investing in local financial institutions that serve these communities,” said Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin. “Today’s awards will provide much-needed capital to help community-based financial institutions offer products and services that would otherwise be out of reach for thousands of low-income Americans.” HOPE is a regional financial institution, community development intermediary and policy center that provides affordable financial services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill its mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the Mid South. Over the years HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.4 billion in financing and benefited more than 75,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. HOPE was selected for an allocation after a competitive review of 393 applications received by the CDFI Fund from organizations across the nation that requested, in total, nearly $466 million in funding under the FY 2011 round of the CDFI Program.
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July 19th, 2011
CDFI Is in Top Allocation Tier Jackson, Miss—HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) has received an allocation of $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. HOPE will use the funds to help spur economic growth and recovery, as well as expand access to affordable financial products and services. The awards are being made through the fiscal year 2011 round of the CDFI Fund’s cornerstone program, the Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program), and represent the largest single round of monetary awards in the CDFI Fund’s history. HOPE received of highest award amount available during this round of funding. Hope was the only organization in Mississippi and Tennessee, one of three in Arkansas, and one of six in Louisiana to receive an award. “HOPE has worked hard to become one of the nation’s most effective CDFIs, and we are excited to receive this funding based on the merits of our plan to use it here in the Mid South,” said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum. “While other financial institutions have restricted lending, HOPE continues to see strong demand, and we are providing financial resources to small businesses, homebuyers and working families.” CDFI Fund Director Donna J. Gambrell joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S Representative Danny Davis to announce awards totaling $142,302,667 for 155 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving economically distressed communities across the nation. The organizations awarded are headquartered in 40 states and the District of Columbia. “Every community deserves to have access to basic financial products and services, from bank accounts to affordable home and car loans. The CDFI Program provides access to rural and urban communities across the country by investing in local financial institutions that serve these communities,” said Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin. “Today’s awards will provide much-needed capital to help community-based financial institutions offer products and services that would otherwise be out of reach for thousands of low-income Americans.” HOPE is a regional financial institution, community development intermediary and policy center that provides affordable financial services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill its mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the Mid South. Over the years HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.4 billion in financing and benefited more than 75,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. HOPE was selected for an allocation after a competitive review of 393 applications received by the CDFI Fund from organizations across the nation that requested, in total, nearly $466 million in funding under the FY 2011 round of the CDFI Program.
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July 12th, 2011
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Vinton June 12, 2011 Phone: (228) 563-6583 Email: lvinton@hope-ec.org Free Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Available to Coast Homeowners Workshop, Counseling Sessions to be Held July 14 Mississippi Coast homeowners who are facing difficulties with their mortgages can attend a free foreclosure prevention seminar on Thursday, July 14, to learn what they can do to help keep their home. The workshop will provide an overview of important foreclosure issues and includes the opportunity to meet with a counselor one-on-one. The event is sponsored by Hope Enterprise Corporation and Fannie Mae. Foreclosure continues to be a real issue across the country and has affected Mississippi disproportionately. In addition to the devastating consequences for families, foreclosure has a disastrous impact on communities. But there are steps a homeowners can take to avoid losing their home. Even with a foreclosure sale date pending, there are still options that may be available to allow families to continue living in their residence. HOPE is a HUD-approved counseling agency that works with borrowers and lenders to find solutions that are beneficial to everyone involved. In addition to local in-person workshops and appointments, HOPE conducts phone counseling for homeowners located across the country, providing assistance to people from as far away as Alaska. “We have been very successful at helping people understand what they are facing, developing a plan to remedy the situation, and working with the mortgage lender to resolve the situation,” said HOPE Vice President Laura Vinton. “Our counseling staff gives these homeowners the tools they need to help preserve what is often a family’s most valuable asset. The workshop will be held at 4320 West Railroad Street in Gulfport. The session begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend. People who need more information or who are unable to attend the workshop but still need assistance can contact HOPE by calling 228-563-6581 or 1-888-246-6314, toll free. There are signs that homeowners should take as a warning that they may be at risk of facing foreclosure action, including being one or more months behind on a house note, paying the mortgage late each month, having a loan with a variable rate that is about to increase significantly, experiencing reduced income, running up large credit card or medical debt. While HOPE is a HUD-approved counseling agency and provides services at no cost, homeowners should beware of loan modification scams. Some companies and individuals prey on homeowners seeking foreclosure prevention assistance, charging high fees without providing any services. People who suspect they are being targeted by unscrupulous organizations can report foreclosure or loan modification scams by visiting www.loanscamalert.org or calling 1-888-995-HOPE (4673). ### Find out more about the workshop. See the event flyer.
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June 22nd, 2011
Regional CDFI Brings Critical Lending Expertise to Discussion Jackson, Miss.– Bill Bynum, CEO of HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) and Greg Wineland, HOPE’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending, will be part of a conference on “Winning the Future with American Business” hosted by the White House Business Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration. HOPE has more than 15 years of experience as a leading SBA lender and meeting the needs of small businesses with financing and related services. “We see entrepreneurs and small businesses with great potential across the Mid South, and HOPE has been an important part of helping them grow with the right combination of lending and technical assistance,” said Bynum. “Now more than ever, companies need capital to succeed, and HOPE has continued to set new lending records every year while other institutions have severely curtailed their lending efforts. We are committed to being part of this region’s prosperity.” Since 2000, the nonprofit has provided more than $160 million in financing for nearly 700 businesses across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The funding helped create or maintain nearly 11,000 jobs. The roundtable will be held Wednesday, June 22, in Jackson, Mississippi. The meeting will feature Cassius Butts, Regional Administrator of the SBA’s Region IV headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. “President Obama’s State of the Union address that the nation must commit to winning the future: out-innovating, out-building and out-educating the rest of the world,” said Butts. “The purpose of these roundtables is to listen to local businesses, getting feedback on how the Administration can best support their growth. It is also to make sure that local business leaders are taking advantage of the Administration resources and programs designed to help them create jobs and compete.” White House Business Council members will host these roundtables in at least 100 communities across the country by year-end. Jackson, Mississippi is one of those communities. Also, local SBA Mississippi District Office staff will be present to share information about SBA. HOPE is a financial institution, community development intermediary and policy center that provides affordable financial services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill its mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the Mid South. Since 1994, HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.4 billion in financing and benefited more than 75,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. SBA helps develop thousands of small businesses each year by providing access to start-up and expansion capital, counseling, training, surety bonding, business and home disaster mitigation loans and government contracting opportunities. Region IV is consistently among the top three most active regions in the nation for SBA guaranteed lending programs. In 2010, over 160,000 small business loans were approved in the region.
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June 22nd, 2011
For Immediate Release Contact: Scot Slay June 22, 2011 Office: (601) 944-4175 E-mail: sslay@hope-ec.org HOPE CEO Joins SBA Officials for Roundtable on Future of American Business Regional CDFI Brings Critical Lending Expertise to Discussion Jackson, Miss.– Bill Bynum, CEO of HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) and Greg Wineland, HOPE’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending, will be part of a conference on “Winning the Future with American Business” hosted by the White House Business Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration. HOPE has more than 15 years of experience as a leading SBA lender and meeting the needs of small businesses with financing and related services. “We see entrepreneurs and small businesses with great potential across the Mid South, and HOPE has been an important part of helping them grow with the right combination of lending and technical assistance,” said Bynum. “Now more than ever, companies need capital to succeed, and HOPE has continued to set new lending records every year while other institutions have severely curtailed their lending efforts. We are committed to being part of this region’s prosperity.” Since 2000, the nonprofit has provided more than $160 million in financing for nearly 700 businesses across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The funding helped create or maintain nearly 11,000 jobs. The roundtable will be held Wednesday, June 22, in Jackson, Mississippi. The meeting will feature Cassius Butts, Regional Administrator of the SBA’s Region IV headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. “President Obama’s State of the Union address that the nation must commit to winning the future: out-innovating, out-building and out-educating the rest of the world,” said Butts. “The purpose of these roundtables is to listen to local businesses, getting feedback on how the Administration can best support their growth. It is also to make sure that local business leaders are taking advantage of the Administration resources and programs designed to help them create jobs and compete.” White House Business Council members will host these roundtables in at least 100 communities across the country by year-end. Jackson, Mississippi is one of those communities. Also, local SBA Mississippi District Office staff will be present to share information about SBA. HOPE is a financial institution, community development intermediary and policy center that provides affordable financial services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill its mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the Mid South. Since 1994, HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.4 billion in financing and benefited more than 75,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. SBA helps develop thousands of small businesses each year by providing access to start-up and expansion capital, counseling, training, surety bonding, business and home disaster mitigation loans and government contracting opportunities. Region IV is consistently among the top three most active regions in the nation for SBA guaranteed lending programs. In 2010, over 160,000 small business loans were approved in the region. […]
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June 20th, 2011
Special Program Connects Developers to Financing Jackson, Mississippi—The national housing crisis has dramatically increased the urgent need for reasonably priced residential options across the nation and in our community. Please join HOPE along with The Wishcamper Companies, Inc., Rocky Mountain Development Group, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mississippi Home Corp, New Horizons Development, Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VI, and other investment partners at a ribbon cutting ceremony for Lincoln Gardens, an apartment complex that has been renovated to provide quality, affordable housing and the means to a brighter future for Jackson residents. RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY / PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011 10:00 AM 4125 Sunset Drive, Jackson, MS Map Link to Event Site: http://mapq.st/j57njS A total of 100 rental units have been completely renovated for people who meet income and other eligibility requirements. The complex will feature one, two, three and four-bedroom units, a fitness center, a community room with kitchen, and a business/computer room. The project represents a total investment of $10.9 million in affordable housing development. SPEAKERS Bill Bynum, CEO – HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) The Honorable Hillman Frazier, Housing Committee Chair – Mississippi State Senate The Honorable Jon Horhn – Mississippi State Senator Sheriff Malcolm McMillan, Sheriff, Hinds County Kenneth Stokes, Ward 3 City Councilman – City of Jackson Additional, speakers will include representatives from Senator Wicker’s Office, Mississippi Home Corporation, Housing and Urban Development, and The Wishcamper Companies, Inc. Trustmark Bank, Hope Enterprise Corporation, Mississippi Home Corporation, and Alliant Capital, Ltd. are providing funding for this development. The project utilized a number of financing sources, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and stimulus funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The event will highlight the Lincoln Garden Apartments project as an example of how public-private partnerships can improve the quality of life for low-income families and their communities.
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June 20th, 2011
News Advisory Contact: Scot Slay June 20, 2011 E-mail: sslay@hope-ec.org Apartment Redevelopment Project Means More Affordable Housing for Jackson Residents Special Program Connects Developers to Financing Jackson, Mississippi—The national housing crisis has dramatically increased the urgent need for reasonably priced residential options across the nation and in our community. Please join HOPE along with The Wishcamper Companies, Inc., Rocky Mountain Development Group, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mississippi Home Corp, New Horizons Development, Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VI, and other investment partners at a ribbon cutting ceremony for Lincoln Gardens, an apartment complex that has been renovated to provide quality, affordable housing and the means to a brighter future for Jackson residents. RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY / PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011 10:00 AM 4125 Sunset Drive, Jackson, MS Map Link to Event Site: http://mapq.st/j57njS A total of 100 rental units have been completely renovated for people who meet income and other eligibility requirements. The complex will feature one, two, three and four-bedroom units, a fitness center, a community room with kitchen, and a business/computer room. The project represents a total investment of $10.9 million in affordable housing development. SPEAKERS Bill Bynum, CEO – HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) The Honorable Hillman Frazier, Housing Committee Chair – Mississippi State Senate The Honorable Jon Horhn – Mississippi State Senator Sheriff Malcolm McMillan, Sheriff, Hinds County Kenneth Stokes, Ward 3 City Councilman – City of JacksonAdditional, speakers will include representatives from Senator Wicker’s Office, Mississippi Home Corporation, Housing and Urban Development, and The Wishcamper Companies, Inc. Trustmark Bank, Hope Enterprise Corporation, Mississippi Home Corporation, and Alliant Capital, Ltd. are providing funding for this development. The project utilized a number of financing sources, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and stimulus funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The event will highlight the Lincoln Garden Apartments project as an example of how public-private partnerships can improve the quality of life for low-income families and their communities. ###
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June 13th, 2011
Mid South Region Will Receive National Affordable Housing Boost Jackson, Miss. — Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE) has been awarded membership in the national NeighborWorks® network. This significant achievement, which involved HOPE meeting high organizational health and performance standards, enables the organization to gain access to a powerful battery of training, research, technical assistance and funding opportunities. Neighborworks will be providing $300,000 as an initial investment to support HOPE’s work. “HOPE has worked tirelessly for more than 15 years to build quality affordable housing and to provide financing with reasonable terms to homebuyers across the Mid South,” said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum. “We are excited about joining the NeighborWorks network our ability to access the powerful resources and best practices in affordable housing will allow us to more efficiently serve residents in our region.” HOPE is a financial institution, community development intermediary and policy center that provides affordable financial services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill its mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the Mid South. Since 1994 HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.4 billion in financing and benefited more than 75,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. NeighborWorks® America Chief Executive Officer Eileen Fitzgerald congratulated HOPE for its high productivity, dedication to affordable housing and service within its community, and accountability. “NeighborWorks network membership provides HOPE access to resources that strengthen its ability to serve the Mid South, create jobs, and contribute to local economic growth. We are proud to have productive and effective organization join our network of excellence,” said Fitzgerald. Since 2000, HOPE has improved the quality of life for over 12,000 individuals by expanding access to homeownership through its affordable housing and homebuyer counseling programs. In 2010, over two-thirds of the families assisted through HOPE’s mortgage programs were minorities and 88% were first time homebuyers. HOPE also connected over 1,500 individuals to housing counseling – of whom 8 out of 10 were low-income. Among the 1,500 individuals counseled, 281 received services specifically to avert a foreclosure. Ninety-three percent of the families that received foreclosure prevention counseling report positive outcomes to the cases handled by HOPE. NeighborWorks America created the NeighborWorks network to improve homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families; provide financial education and improve financial literacy; rebuild and repair properties; develop affordable multifamily units; and use innovative strategies to improve safety and revitalize communities across the nation. Collectively, over the last five years NeighborWorks America and the more than 235 members of the NeighborWorks network have been able to: Invest more than $20 billion in America’s urban, rural, and suburban communities; Create the nation’s largest force of certified homeownership education counselors and foreclosure intervention counselors; Provide homeownership counseling to more than 500,000 families; Assist more than 85,000 families of modest means to achieve their dream of homeownership; Develop, own and manage over 80,000 affordable, high quality rental units; Rehabilitate […]
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June 13th, 2011
For Immediate Release Contact: Scot Slay June 14, 2011 Office: (601) 944-4175 E-mail: sslay@hope-ec.org HOPE Awarded NeighborWorks® Membership Mid South Region Will Receive National Affordable Housing Boost Jackson, Miss. — Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE) has been awarded membership in the national NeighborWorks® network. This significant achievement, which involved HOPE meeting high organizational health and performance standards, enables the organization to gain access to a powerful battery of training, research, technical assistance and funding opportunities. Neighborworks will be providing $300,000 as an initial investment to support HOPE’s work. “HOPE has worked tirelessly for more than 15 years to build quality affordable housing and to provide financing with reasonable terms to homebuyers across the Mid South,” said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum. “We are excited about joining the NeighborWorks network our ability to access the powerful resources and best practices in affordable housing will allow us to more efficiently serve residents in our region.” HOPE is a financial institution, community development intermediary and policy center that provides affordable financial services; leverages private, public and philanthropic resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill its mission of strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in economically distressed parts of the Mid South. Since 1994 HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.4 billion in financing and benefited more than 75,000 individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. NeighborWorks® America Chief Executive Officer Eileen Fitzgerald congratulated HOPE for its high productivity, dedication to affordable housing and service within its community, and accountability. “NeighborWorks network membership provides HOPE access to resources that strengthen its ability to serve the Mid South, create jobs, and contribute to local economic growth. We are proud to have productive and effective organization join our network of excellence,” said Fitzgerald. Since 2000, HOPE has improved the quality of life for over 12,000 individuals by expanding access to homeownership through its affordable housing and homebuyer counseling programs. In 2010, over two-thirds of the families assisted through HOPE’s mortgage programs were minorities and 88% were first time homebuyers. HOPE also connected over 1,500 individuals to housing counseling – of whom 8 out of 10 were low-income. Among the 1,500 individuals counseled, 281 received services specifically to avert a foreclosure. Ninety-three percent of the families that received foreclosure prevention counseling report positive outcomes to the cases handled by HOPE. NeighborWorks America created the NeighborWorks network to improve homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families; provide financial education and improve financial literacy; rebuild and repair properties; develop affordable multifamily units; and use innovative strategies to improve safety and revitalize communities across the nation. Collectively, over the last five years NeighborWorks America and the more than 235 members of the NeighborWorks network have been able to: Invest more than $20 billion in America’s urban, rural, and suburban communities; Create the nation’s largest force of certified homeownership education counselors and foreclosure intervention counselors; Provide homeownership counseling to more than 500,000 families; Assist more than 85,000 families of modest means to […]
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