Wells Fargo and Operation HOPE, a nonprofit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, recently announced the opening of their HOPE Inside centers to four additional markets: Newark, as well as Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Gallup, New Mexico.
The new HOPE Inside centers are located inside a Wells Fargo branch in each market, and feature Operation HOPE financial coaches who help empower community members to achieve their financial goals through free financial education workshops and one-on-one coaching. In the Newark market, the HOPE Inside coach is located inside the Newark Lincoln Park branch, at 1040 Broad St., just outside the Central Business District neighborhood.
“We know from our outreach and work with national and community stakeholders that financial education and guidance, and an individual’s sense of inclusion and trust, are all important factors in bringing more people who are unbanked into the formal banking system,” Darlene Goins, head of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative, said. “Working with Operation HOPE is one important way that we can help remove barriers to financial inclusion and empower people with education, resources and tools to manage their money, improve their credit and achieve their financial goals. It’s exciting to see this collaboration grow and make a great impact in even more communities.”
With the new locations, Wells Fargo continues its commitment to make financial education and guidance more accessible to those most in need by opening HOPE Inside centers in 20 low- to moderate-income communities, serving 100 branches by the end of 2023.
“The Wells Fargo HOPE Inside centers mark a significant step forward in addressing barriers to financial wealth in diverse communities by offering a welcoming space, access to financial coaches and expanded resources that support the financial goals of individuals with the greatest needs,” John Hope Bryant, chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE, said. “This collaborative effort drives meaningful change and ultimately helps address the deeply rooted barriers to financial empowerment in underserved communities.”