PORTLAND, Ore. - Credit unions in Oregon could scarcely have had a better representative speaking for them than 19-year old Elbia Brambila, a teller at Fred Meyer Employees FCU. The recent high school graduate answered a call for help from Oregon CU League officials and appeared as a guest on an early morning consumer finance show at the top Hispanic radio station in the Northwest. Fred R. Robley, Fred Meyer Employees' FCU CEO, immediately thought of his bright, enterprising and cheerful new teller when he read the e-mail from the league asking for a Spanish speaker to appear on the program that would highlight credit unions. "I was very honored to have the opportunity offered to me," Brambila told Credit Union Times. The feeling was apparently mutual. "Response from the show was wonderful," League officials said. "Not only did Elbia do a fantastic job of representing credit unions, listeners called the station and the host for days following the broadcast, wanting information on how to join a credit union." As a result of the strong listener response, the host of the show plans to do more shows devoted to the advantages of joining credit unions. And Elbia Brambila may very well be part of the program. The Hispanic community, well-established in the Southwest, today is beginning to reach out in the rest of the U.S. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Credit Union League in Durham is eager to help the many Hispanic workers who are reluctant or unable to establish accounts in financial institutions (CU Times, Oct. 6, 1999.) In recent years in Oregon, credit unions and other financial institutions have been reaching out as well. Now, Brambila is part of that effort. The need is real and growing. "I know some people who don't have a large amount in savings institutions," she said. "They have a small minimum balance and keep the rest at home. I've been trying to talk them into depositing their money in a financial institution. I guess they are afraid to keep it in there." Fears range from worrying about immigration officials, to having the correct documentation required by banking regulations, to concerns about the language gap. Others keep only minimum balances, because they want to continue to qualify for certain government services like free lunches at school and newborn baby clinics and food stamps. Such concerns have not reached Brambila's own family, but her mother doesn't have the language and office skills to apply for higher-paying work than the fast food restaurant work she does now. It was in that restaurant that opportunity first knocked for Brambila. The son of a credit union executive was working at the same place and he insisted that Brambila's mother should apply to the credit union for a job opening. Brambila, 17 at the time and still in school, decided to apply for the job, but the credit union wasn't hiring high school students then. They referred her to another credit union in the Portland area, but she didn't get that job either. At about the same time, the Fred Meyer Corporation merged with a Washington grocery chain. As a result, Fred Meyer Employees' FCU found itself with a huge load of back office work to deal with the new employees. They called Brambila and hired her as a temporary employee until she turned 18. "And now I'm a teller!" she adds, with obvious delight. She has also graduated from high school and is now attending a local community college, where she wants to earn degrees in administrative assistance and accounting. Brambila's background perfectly suits her for the job. She was born in Idaho, but lived in Mexico with her family from the time she was a baby until she was about seven years old. "In my home, it's a rule - we speak Spanish." she said, firmly. That's a rule that turns out to be an advantage in her work. "We have a few members who come in and talk to me in Spanish. I wish we had more." She had never done radio work before, but said she wasn't nervous. After one year and eight months as a teller at Fred Meyer EFCU, she was well-prepared. She didn't hear the many people calling in because she hung up after her interview and Portland, where she lives, is out of the listening area for that station. "Next time, I'm thinking it could be the whole show [rather than just a segment]. I am thinking of going in, so I can answer questions." This ambitious and thoughtful young woman has laid out a bold path into the future for herself and her mother. "I don't want her to be at a fast food restaurant any more. I plan for her to go to school and I can work full-time and she can get a job at a credit union!." she said. "I think it's a great job. I love it." Brambila's father, two brothers, and a sister, will undoubtedly be cheering her on, along with her colleagues in the credit union. -
mcintyre@viclink.com
