Helping Real Texans with Real Needs

For predatory loan victims climbing out of debt... working families facing emergencies... young people striving for the American dream... and everyone struggling to live paycheck to paycheck...

REAL Solutions®
"REAL" stands for "Relevant, Effective, Asset-building, Loyalty-producing" Solutions. The program works with the National Credit Union Foundation and the Texas Credit Union League to help credit unions offer services that have proven successful for people of modest means and "low wealth." The REAL Solutions program in Texas is supported by a generous grant from the Texas Credit Union Foundation.

Real People
Low-wealth households include not only low-income workers, but also renters with moderate and middle incomes who are unable to save. REAL Solutions®
reaches consumers of all ages and all ethnic groups.

Real Needs
Millions of people with low weath needs opportunities to build savings and assets. Many have no alternative but predatory lenders when they need cash in unexpected emergencies.

REAL Solutions® is a statewide partnership between the Texas Credit Union League and credit unions committed to help real Texans build financially strong, self-supporting families and communities by offering innovative services and programs that:

• Offer affordable alternatives to high-cost financial products and services.
• Reduce dependency on predatory financial providers.
• Increase financial literacy.
• Improve personal financial management.
• Encourage saving and wealth-building.
• Build creditworthiness.
• Provide an avenue to personal financial stability.
• Improve the financial and economic well-being of Texan communities.

REAL Solutions offers important outreach to people with low or moderate incomes, new Americans and the "unbanked" - people who, without help from not-for-profit, member-owned credit unions - might be locked out of affordable saving and borrowing opportunities. As member-owned organizations whose sole purpose is to meet members' needs - regardless of members' wealth or whether the institution profits - credit unions care intrinsically about people's personal financial health and well-being of their communities!

Through REAL Solutions, Texas consumers can gain the solid financial footing they need to remain self-supporting, contributing members of our state's economy. REAL Solutions isn't any particular program or service - it's a commitment by Texas credit unions to offer financial solutions that improve the lives of their members and communities.

By signing on to REAL Solutions, credit unions rededicate themselves to the principles upon which they were founded and collaborate with the Texas Credit Union League and credit union peers to make a positive difference in people's lives. When credit unions sign up for REAL Solutions, expect:

• Resources filled with REAL Solutions information, including a REAL Solutions Tool Kit, communication materials to help explain credit unions' collective effort, and new ideas as part of participant meetings.
• Opportunities to form partnerships in offering REAL Solutions and advocacy opportunities to share your success with others.
• Training to boost your knowledge of underserved markets, predatory lenders and more.
• Regular updates from the Texas Credit Union League to help you expand your REAL Solutions and share new opportunities.