The Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile (eBus) pulled into Reid’s Valley View Apartments in the Beekman Corridor on May 22. The 40′ customized mobile classroom equipped with internet-accessible workstations was staffed by Fifth Third Bank employees, ready to help visitors get a better understanding of how banking works.
Annually, WIN partners with Fifth Third to host this event that brings services and educational tools to underserved neighborhoods and unbanked residents.
After boarding the eBus, residents were able to review their soft credit report with a banker, have their finances evaluated, receive financial education, watch a tutorial on Internet banking and bill payment, open an online account, and receive referrals on loan applications.
“It’s so important for families to build relationships with banking institutions so that they are not taken advantage of by payday lenders,” said WIN’s executive director S. Barbara Busch. “By looking at their overall financial situation, families gain knowledge to make informed financial decisions.”
Other WIN partners participating in the event were The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, The Ohio Justice Project, and Talbert House.