Everyday Money Account Receives National Certification by Banking Advocates

Denver, Colorado – The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) officially certified Westerra Credit Union’s “Everyday Money Account” as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards. The national safe account Standards, co-created by consumer advocates, leading national nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, and other financial institutions, designate both core and strongly recommended features that ensure low cost, high functionality, and consumer safety. This certification is valid through 2024.

The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The Bank On National Account Standards identify critical product features for appropriate bank or credit union accounts, making it easier for local coalitions across the country to connect consumers to accounts that meet their needs.

“At Westerra Credit Union, the recognition of our Everyday Money Account by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund's Bank On certification is a testament to our commitment to our purpose – we exist to teach one another to prosper,” said Westerra CEO, Jay Champion.

Key features of Westerra’s Everyday Money Account include no overdraft fees, no monthly fees, no minimum balance, no foreign transaction fees and 30,000 free ATMs nationwide. These features align with the Bank On Certification criteria of providing accessible and affordable financial services to individuals.

“The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is delighted to award its national Bank On account certification to Westerra Credit Union’ s Everyday Money Account” said Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “An Everyday Money Account offers Colorado residents who are looking to improve their finances a safe, affordable, and truly useful mainstream banking product to access and manage their money. Westerra Credit Union’s offering of this terrific account brings them into the forefront of national banking access efforts, and we thank them.”

The CFE Fund leads the national Bank On movement, supporting almost 100 local coalitions working to connect individuals and families to the financial mainstream through partnerships between governments, financial institutions, and community organizations. 

An Everyday Money Account can be opened in under five minutes at westerracu.com/spending, by visiting any of their Denver metro area branches, or by calling 303-321-4209 or 1-800-858-7212.

About Westerra Credit Union

Denver-based Westerra Credit Union holds approximately $2-billion in assets and serves 123,000 members throughout the Denver metro area. Founded in Denver 1934 by eight schoolteachers, Westerra’s Purpose is to “teach one another to prosper.” Member-owned and committed to the communities we serve, today we carry that purpose forward to help individuals, families, and businesses. In the past decade, Westerra has donated more than $500,000 annually to the community through sponsorships, donations and grants. For more information, visit www.westerracu.com.

About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)

The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in over 100 cities and counties, and has disbursed over $59 million to local governments and their partners to support these efforts. For more information, please visit www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund.

About Bank On

Bank On coalitions are locally-led partnerships between local public officials; city, state, and federal government agencies; financial institutions; and community organizations that work together to help improve the financial stability of unbanked and underbanked individuals and families in their communities. The Bank On national initiative builds on a grassroots movement of almost 100 coalitions in cities across the country, offering National Account Standards, capacity grant support, pilot funding, and a learning community. In addition to connecting unbanked individuals to accounts, Bank On programs raise public awareness, target outreach to the unbanked, and expand access to financial education. Visit www.cfefund.org/bankon for more information, or follow the conversation on Twitter @CFEFund #BankOn.