Self-Help Shares

We are honored to serve our communities year after year. In 2025, we expanded our family to support even more members across new communities with new stories that are constantly reminding us of why we are working toward our mission of ownership and economic opportunity for everyone every day.  

While we can’t possibly encapsulate every story from every member who has been able to accomplish their financial goals, we are excited to share a handful of stories and statistics in our 2025 Annual Report. 

We can’t close out May without taking time to honor Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! The AANHPI community in the U.S. is made up of a huge range of people coming from over 50 different ethnic backgrounds.  

While members of the AANHPI community have a wide range of experiences and histories within the U.S., many AANHPI groups consist of immigrants that have come to the U.S. with little to no credit, making it challenging to build wealth for many AANHPI families.  

In this blog post, we will be discussing what credit is, what goes into your credit, and steps that AANHPI communities and immigrants can take to build credit. 

In our latest legacy video, “Investing in People: Community Trust Credit Union,” you’ll get to hear from members, employees, and partners about the legacy and history of Community Trust Credit Union in Modesto, CA, leading up to its merger with Self-Help. 

February is Black History Month, and this year marks 100 years of national Black History commemorations. Black History Month originally started as only a week-long celebration in February of 1926, but it was expanded to be a monthlong celebration at the 50th anniversary in 1976.

The purpose of this annual recognition is to honor the often-neglected accomplishments of Black Americans throughout our history. While Black Americans have contributed substantially to our progress as a society, it is also important to celebrate the personal accomplishments of Black Americans. People don’t have to be written in our history books to be considered valued and important members of our families, neighborhoods, and communities. 

In this blog post, we will be sharing stories from our members and borrowers over the years who have worked hard to break down barriers and achieve their financial goals. We are honored to consider them part of the Self-Help family. 

Self-Help believes in ownership and economic opportunity for all — but in order to thrive economically, our communities have to have the tools they need to survive on a daily basis. One important tool that is often taken for granted is access to food.  

That’s why Self-Help is joining the fight against food instability by partnering with No Kid Hungry. No Kid Hungry is a campaign focused on providing children with access to three meals a day. It is run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world.

For many people, the holidays are often associated with home. Home is what you make it, but we know that finding the right living space to call your own can make a difference in your health, happiness, and safety while giving you and your loved ones the gift of generational wealth. 

In this blog post, we are sharing Demetre’s journey from stressful living to creating a more comfortable home for his family. 

^{Originally published on November 4th, 2024. Updated on November 24th, 2025.}

The holiday season is upon us, which means we are preparing for the joyous food, festivities, and gifts that we love to share with loved ones... but unfortunately, that comes with extra expenses, too. 

Avoid the extra financial stress by creating and sticking to a holiday budget, so you can enjoy this time of year without breaking the bank. In this blog post, we will be going through the steps for creating a holiday budget, tips for how to stick with it, and ways you can get extra support. 

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is honored annually in memory of transgender individuals whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender bias.  

Transgender folks remain one of the most vulnerable groups in our society with the ongoing anti-transgender rhetoric affecting both the safety and financial security of transgender folks.  

In this blog post, we will be discussing the challenges that transgender folks face in finding safety and financial security and providing a few ways that you might be able to find or provide some support. 

^{HBCUs near Self-Help branches}

There are only a couple weeks left of homecoming season, which is a culturally significant time for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It is an opportunity for students, alumni, and their families to come together in connection and celebration rooted in resistance. 

As with any homecoming, the event surrounds a fall football game, but HBCUs take it a  
“step” further with a week of events, such as parades, step shows, performances, and more.  

In this blog post, we will be discussing the history of HBCU homecoming, why it is an important part of Black culture, the typical traditions and events, and our HBCU Promise. 

Self-Help honors Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month by celebrating the vibrant culture of Chicago's Little Village. Discover the beautiful mural showcasing Mexican history and prominent figures, learn about the remarkable legacy of Second Federal Savings & Loan, and see how community banking continues to empower Latino families through economic opportunity and homeownership.

^{Jerry, in front of his business, Oaks Road Tires, in New Bern, NC.} 

August is National Black Business Month, which provides a chance for consumers and proprietors to celebrate and empower Black businesses, give them a platform to grow, and help build wealth for Black Americans. It is also a time to recognize the impact of Black businesses and the historical challenges they often face. 

In honor of Black Business Month, we are featuring a Black business owner named Jerry, whose story is an amazing example of perseverance in the face of predatory lending. According to the Center of Responsible Lending, people of color are two to three times more likely to receive an abusive loan, which is why pushing back against abusive lending practices must be part of helping Black communities thrive. 

In this blog post, we will be sharing Jerry’s story, information on predatory lending, and a short background of Black Business Month. 

July is Disability Pride Month, which celebrates people with disabilities and commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. This landmark legislation was a huge step in ensuring the inclusion of people with disabilities in society by preventing discrimination and protecting rights. While societal inclusion is important for combatting discrimination, financial inclusion is just as important for helping people to maintain their independence and freedom.

While the new federal budget will have an impact in many people’s lives, the disability community will likely be navigating additional adjustments as varying pieces of the new bill are put into place. It’s important for people with disabilities to be aware of all of the potential changes coming their way, so they can best prepare and make necessary changes to try and maintain financial stability.

In this blog post, we will be discussing the varying budget changes that might impact people with disabilities and their families as well as discussing some potential resources and options to help keep finances and support more manageable.