ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The $122 million HEW Federal Credit Union has been approved to expand its field of membership. In addition to the underserved areas of Washington, D.C., the credit union with roughly 20,000 members has been approved to serve underserved areas of Alexandria City as well as Arlington and Fairfax Counties in D.C.'s Virginia suburbs.

The new area encompasses an area known as Arlandria and is heavily Hispanic, with a significant number of check cashers and payday lenders, and has few bank or other credit union branches. The credit union said the field of membership increase would enable it to offer financial services to an area that has been overlooked by traditional financial institutions.

"Since we are a credit union, we believe wholeheartedly in the Credit Union Philosophy of 'People Helping People'." says Kathleen Geary, HEWFCU CEO. HEWFCU also believes in giving back to the communities it serves through partnerships with local organizations as well as offering free investment seminars and free financial counseling, the CU said.