Operation Hope will conduct a free credit and money management workshop 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at First Tennessee’s South Knoxville financial center, located at 4416 Chapman Highway.
The workshop will cover topics such as establishing or increasing a credit score, creating a budget, how to read a credit report and what can be done to correct errors that may negatively affect a credit score.
Anyone who has completed a workshop can schedule a private counseling session to get one-on-one advice and continue improving money management skills.
Dave Miller, the East Market president of First Tennessee, is a strong advocate for this partnership. “We know that when our communities succeed, First Tennessee can succeed,” he said.
The collaboration with Operation Hope Inc. involves office space at designated financial centers, currently South Knox and Burlington. The Burlington counselor is Deborah Porter and the South Knoxville counselor is Kristie Blevins. RSVP to Blevins at 865-242-8872 or Kristie.Blevins@operationhope.org.
Operation Hope curriculum is facilitated by First Tennessee’s employee volunteers, strategic nonprofit alliance partners and counselors Blevins and Porter.
Steve Swain, First Tennessee’s director for the Operation HOPE program and business development strategy, said, “So far in Knoxville we have served almost 900 clients in financial workshops and one-on-one counseling, with an average credit score improvement of 37 points after a six-month review. We feel these outcomes prove its effectiveness in financial dignity and economic empowerment.”
Participation is free and open to anyone who is interested in learning:
- How to improve a credit score
- Budget techniques to get the most out of limited income
- Ways to pay off debt and use credit smartly
Additional South Knoxville workshops will be held at 4416 Chapman Highway on Saturdays, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.
A second workshop, “700 credit score,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 23, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7.
Burlington workshops will be held at First Tennessee at 121 Kirkwood from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16.
Contact is Deborah Porter who can be reached at 865-474-9270 or Deborah.Porter@operationhope.org.