Members First Credit Union Language Assistance Plan

Introduction:

Members First Credit Union is committed to ensuring that its products and services are delivered and implemented in a non-discriminatory manner and will take steps to assist limited English proficient (LEP) individuals, specifically our Spanish-Speaking Community, to access our services.

Language Assistance Policy:

MFCU affirms its commitment to language assistance, ensuring that LEP individuals, especially Spanish speakers, have equal access to financial services.  This commitment aligns with the principles of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, emphasizing nondiscrimination in programs and activities receiving federal assistance.

MFCU will take reasonable steps to provide LEP individuals with meaningful access to all products, services, and programs offered by MFCU.

This policy is based on the principle that it is the responsibility of MFCU and not the LEP person to take reasonable steps to ensure that communications between MFCU and the LEP person are not impaired as a result of the limited English proficiency of the individual.

MFCU will take reasonable steps to effectively inform the public of the availability of language accessible programs and activities, which will include participating in cultural events such as our local Cinco de Mayo and Latino Festival to promote the benefits of membership as well as awareness of our language assistance services.

Identification of Language Needs:

To identify language needs, MFCU will conduct surveys at community engagement events and track language preferences of members, with a specific focus on Spanish speakers.  This proactive approach enables us to tailor our language assistance services to the unique needs of the Spanish-speaking community.

Language Assistance Services:

All staff will receive training on the importance of providing meaningful information and services to LEP communities. This training will be included as part of New Employee Orientation and refresher training will be provided periodically at staff meetings. MFCU will provide the following language assistance services, with a primary focus on Spanish.

Translation Services:

·        Provide at least one Spanish speaking employee in every branch office.

·        Provide Spanish speaking services in our Solution Center, specifically trained to handle member account inquires and issues.

·        ATM transactions offered in English and Spanish

·        Key loan documents in Spanish

·        Website content in both English and Spanish

·        A library of financial advice articles on our website covering various topics, such as, tips for budgeting, saving, car buying, and managing debt in both English and Spanish

Feedback Mechanism:

·        Establish a system for collecting feedback on language services

·        Regularly assess and improve language assistance efforts based on community input

Monitoring and Evaluation:

MFCU will regularly assess and analyze any feedback to monitor the effectiveness of language assistance services.  Adjustments may be made to the plan to better meet the needs of any LEP persons.

Compliance and Reporting:

To ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, MFCU will maintain records of language assistance activities and provide timely reports to the CDFI fund and other regulatory bodies.

Members First Credit Union is dedicated to promoting financial inclusion through linguistic accessibility, primarily for the Spanish-speaking community.  We believe that the successful implementation of this Language Assistance Plan will contribute to building a more inclusive and thriving community.