Credit unions across Montana have teamed up with Montana Credit Unions for Community Development in a bid to provide members access to certified financial counselors and financial coaches.

“We're really excited by this program. We believe it will help credit unions make an incredible difference in their members' lives,” said Karen Smith, MCUCD Director of Outreach Services.

 “Knowing what makes good financial sense is the first step, but the next step is applying that knowledge – discovering and making the actual changes you need in your life. Now, imagine being able to get both at your local credit union. That's what this program is going make possible in Montana,” Smith said.

With the help of a Financial Education Grant from the National Credit Union Foundation and a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture, the MCUCD has made it easy and affordable for credit union staffers to become trained financial counselors and/or coaches, the organization said

In the past seven months some 14 professionals from Montana's 57 credit unions have completed training, the MCUCD said.