Community HousingWorks Launches Innovative ‘E-asy Account’ to Benefit Low, Moderate-Income Clients
Collaboration with Citi Gives Clients Holistic Picture of Financial Health Capabilities
SAN DIEGO, July 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ – The integration of technology and traditional counseling will soon make it “E-asy” for low and moderate income San Diego residents to get expert, up-to-the minute advice on home buying and improving their financial health. The secret is the E-asy Account, developed by Community HousingWorks (CHW) and funded by a $200,000 contribution from Citi Community Development.
The E-asy Account acts as a bridge, connecting consumer financial information aggregated by Mint.com with the data tracking systems used by financial experts at participating nonprofit organizations.
By eliminating the “paper chase” elements of gathering information, E-asy Account allows both the client and the financial coach to access real-time consumer data, including spending habits, credit and savings information. With the sophisticated tools of Mint.com plus the one-on-one support of an expert coach, E-asy Account users set realistic financial goals and stay motivated towards achieving them. CHW, meanwhile, will see staff productivity rise from 30 to 50 percent, saving thousands of staff hours yearly.
“We are proud to support E-asy Account, a technology-based platform that helps to bridge the digital and information gap between consumers, housing and financial coaches, and service providers,” said Hala Farid, Deputy Director, Office of Homeownership Preservation, Citi Community Development. “We believe technology can be leveraged to increase access for more people to the tools and resources necessary to build successful financial futures. E-asy Account provides a smart and scalable solution, helping nonprofits focus on meeting the needs of clients, rather than collecting paperwork.”
“This tool merges the best of both worlds – cutting edge technology and the personalized, mission-driven support of a nonprofit – to help families of limited means unlock their full potential,” said Gabe del Rio, Chief Operating Officer, CHW.
For nonprofit organizations like CHW, the E-asy Account platform helps staff members become more effective guides in helping clients achieve their financial goals, while spending less time entering and re-entering the clients’ self-reported or outdated information. Organizers also anticipate financial coaches will increase the time spent with clients to work towards their financial goals.
Clients interested in participating in the program setup an account with Mint.com, a free web-based application. Then, upon receiving an email invitation from their financial coach to take part in the program, they can register that profile through the E-asy Account system. This simple two-step process will save valuable time and effort typically put into requesting and gathering all the various account statements that make up a person’s financial reality. E-asy Account is the name given to the portfolio of information available to clients and their counselors for counseling purposes. It does not involve cash deposits to Citibank or any other financial institution.
“This demonstration of technology that brings ease and efficiency to clients and nonprofit service providers, will fundamentally change, for the better, the manner in which we deliver programs,” says del Rio. “The E-asy Account solution can be replicated for other housing and financial counseling agencies on a national level.” The E-asy Account technology that was developed will be available at no charge to nonprofits after completion of the initial pilot phase.
The public can now enroll in the E-asy Account program with CHW by visiting http://chworks.org/e-asy/ or calling (888) 884-4249. Representatives from nonprofit organizations who are interested in replicating the program in their service area should contact Cruz Peinado, Associate Vice President of Compliance and Management Systems, CHW, at (619) 450-8701 or at cpeinado@chworks.org.
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About Community HousingWorks
Founded in 1982, Community HousingWorks (CHW) is a nationally-recognized 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that helps people and communities move up in the world through opportunities to own, rent, and achieve. Our nonprofit realty and lending services combined with homeownership classes and coaching help people own; the beautiful, safe, and green communities we build provide homes that working families can afford to rent; and our financial classes and coaching, academic supports for youth, and leadership supports help people achieve their goals. We are San Diego County’s only member of the national NeighborWorks Network® and an award-winning affiliate of the National Council of La Raza. Through our comprehensive programs, we proudly serve more than 8,000 children and adults each year. CHW is San Diego County’s only member of the national NeighborWorks Network® and an award-winning affiliate of the National Council of La Raza.
Additional information may be found at www.chworks.org | Twitter: @CHWorks | YouTube: www.youtube.com/chworksweb | Facebook: www.facebook.com/CHWorks | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/community-housingworks
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi
About Citi Community Development
Citi Community Development is leading Citi’s commitment to achieve economic empowerment and growth for underserved individuals, families and communities by expanding access to financial products and services, and building sustainable business solutions and innovative partnerships. Focus areas include: commercial and philanthropic funding; innovative financial products and services; and collaborations with institutions that expand access to financial products and services for low-income and underserved communities. For more information, please visit www.citicommunitydevelopment.com.
