You have heard me repeatedly give praise to my team at Operation HOPE, and to explain how Operation HOPE and our HOPE Inside model is making a real difference in people’s lives. But maybe it’s better, if I simply share some of the actually testimonials themselves.

Here are a couple, below, that will inspired you.

FTB client testimonials

Client: C. Alcorn

Program: Credit and Money Management

HOPE Inside First Tennessee Bank Memphis, TN – Orange Mound

Financial Wellbeing Coach: Wanda McDonald

“I am an 87-year-old man who until recently had bad credit. I’ve been working with Operation HOPE and Ms. Wanda McDonald for four months. Firstly, I’ve NEVER had anyone to take time with me like this; I mean nobody ever helped me like this before. Ms. McDonald helped me get a credit card which I’ve never had before. For the past couple of months, I’ve come to her office and she has helped me pay my bill over the telephone because I still don’t get it yet. I mentioned how hot it is outside and that my air conditioner went out. I asked Ms. McDonald if I could get a unit on my credit card. She explained it was a $200 credit limit and that it wouldn’t be enough to purchase a unit. Then she looked at my credit again my credit score had increased to 621. Which is better than it has ever been. Ms. McDonald got me approved for a $2,000 credit line with a 0% interest for 12 months. I no longer have to suffer in this record breaking heat and can rest at night. I can’t stop smiling. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Client: M. Cox

Program: Credit and Money Management

HOPE Inside First Tennessee Bank Jackson, TN

Financial Wellbeing Coach: Tiffany Nance

“I was referred to Operation HOPE by my mother who was a client of Ms. Tiffany. When I called Ms. Tiffany, I informed her that I did not believe there was any help for me because my check was being garnished for defaulted student loans. Ms. Tiffany said just come in and we are going to see what we can do. She asked me if I had ever heard of Student Loan Rehabilitation and I had not, but she knew exactly what it was. Ms. Tiffany and I called the Department of Education and was able to get me an Income-Based Repayment. My wages have been garnished for over a year–$170 garnished every two weeks when I get paid and I only make $9/hour. I have been struggling to make ends meet and take care of my 8-month old son. I am so thankful for Ms. Tiffany and all she did for me. I paid my first payment of only $5 today and the garnishment is being suspended. I have also learned that after I make 9 payments, all of the negative student loan information will be deleted from my credit file. I am sending everyone I know to Tiffany Nance at HOPE Inside.”

As you can see for yourself — Operation HOPE and the HOPE Inside model is making real and transformational differences in real people’s lives. Whether it’s moving someone’s credit score 120 points in 24 months, or just giving them their Financial Dignity back, it’s a difference that you can see and feel.

A special thank you here, to my friend and Operation HOPE Global Board Member and Executive Board Member Bryan Jordan, Chairman and CEO of First Tennessee Bank, who supports the HOPE Inside locations where these success stories originate.

First Tennessee Bank has committed that 10% of their total bank branch network will be HOPE Inside locations! We need other banks, and other major corporations and major employers, concerned about the HOPE pioneered space of financial wellbeing and financial wellness, to follow their lead.

Contact your HOPE Inside Network location near you. We WILL become the ‘Starbucks of Financial Inclusion.’ 1,000 HOPE Inside locations by year 2020. We already have more than 130 operational, and more than 400 on order to be opened.

Let’s go…

John Hope Bryant, Founder, Operation HOPE

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