DURHAM, N.C. — Forty adults have graduated from the $56 billion Latino Community Credit Union's financial literacy programs this year, the CU has announced.

The credit union celebrated the graduations at a ceremony planned to coincide with the credit union's annual meeting. The 40 graduates have completed the CUs free educational effort which covered topics such as the benefits of a checking account and debit card, how to save and develop a good budget, credit histories, credit cards, tips for buying a good car and how to prepare to buy a home.

Latino Credit Union's CEO, Luis Pastor, gave a welcome speech at the graduation ceremony and introduced a special guest of the event, Rafael Prieto, editor of Charlotte's Mi Gente newspaper. Prieto said that "as long as we don't know how to manage our income, we will be invisible in this country."