BROCKTON, Mass. — Encouraging other credit unions from across the U.S. to follow its model in aiding beleaguered homeowners, the $1.4 billion HarborOne Credit Union announced today it has set Sept. 17 as the grand opening of its proposed "Multicultural Banking Center."

Invited to speak at the ceremony for the facility, which the CU heralds as a cornerstone for CUs "to do real education" on payday lending and mortgage gimmickry is Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

"With credit unions looking for ways to help out their members during the current mortgage turmoil, our center is a good example of how credit unions can devote more of their resources to financial education," said Leo MacNeil, senior vice president of HarborOne.

The Multicultural Center, being housed in vacant HarborOne property near a branch, will offer free instruction and training to the CU's diverse immigrant and low-income population on such topics as payday alternatives and "avoiding mortgage gimmicks."

The center, thought to be one of the first of its kind in the nation, is aimed at helping the public deal with the foreclosure crisis, which MacNeil said shows no sign of letting up in the Brockton market.

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