First Tennessee Bank has paired with Operation HOPE, a financial literacy and economic empowerment nonprofit, to open two new HOPE Inside locations in Chattanooga.
The new office is located inside the First Tennessee branch at 5526 Brainerd Road. The office will provide free credit and money management, homeownership, and small business counseling. A grand opening event is scheduled for Monday from 3:30-5 p.m .
One of the programs that will be available at the new Chattanooga offices, called the HOPE 700 Credit Scores Initiative, focuses on raising client credit scores to 700 through active counseling.
On average, credit scores have risen 120 points over the 18-month training course, officials said.
HOPE Inside leaders counsel clients on the language of money, transforming established financial mindsets, and creating action plans to improve the way they manage money.
District 6 Councilwoman Dr. Carol Berz said of the launch, “The effect HOPE Inside will have on Chattanooga is huge. By empowering individuals to make well-informed decisions with their money, the community as a whole will become stronger. I’m excited to have the first HOPE Inside located in my District and appreciate First Tennessee working so hard to promote financial literacy.”
First Tennessee Chattanooga market president Jeff Jackson also stated, “We are proud to pair with Operation HOPE to bring financial literacy and training to the underserved communities of Chattanooga. First Tennessee understands that a successful community begins with knowledge and understanding of finances, and we are prepared to offer these tools through the HOPE Inside offices.”