Free Debt Counseling from GreenPath
The national nonprofit organization provides credit and debt counseling and money management advice free to BECU members.
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As part of our commitment to members' financial well-being, BECU partners with GreenPath Financial Wellness to offer support and solutions to individuals experiencing financial stress, in particular stress associated with debt.
Since our partnership started in 2020, GreenPath has helped BECU members pay off more than $12 million of debt. Members consistently report having increased financial confidence after working with GreenPath, and nine out of 10 users would recommend the service to others.
What To Expect When You Call
The free financial counseling sessions take place over the phone and are completely confidential. No appointment is necessary. The initial session usually takes 45 to 60 minutes, although it depends on the member's situation.
GreenPath experts hear from members experiencing a range of financial needs and challenges. Some have credit card, student loan or medical debt that worries them. Others are behind on their bills, have high-interest payday loans, or are facing job loss, foreclosure or bankruptcy.
Here's what some members have said about their experience with GreenPath:
- "[I'm] now confident that we can pay off the high credit cards, and have more funds available to retire."
- "[The] representative was very helpful and very good at explaining all the information."
- "I now have a plan in place and see the end of the tunnel of becoming debt-free."
GreenPath's goal is for members to leave the call clear on their next steps and with the confidence to take them. For some members, one session provides enough support. Others call again with additional questions if something changes, or if their financial health efforts do not go as planned.
Services Available
Through our partnership, GreenPath provides the following services to BECU members:
- Budget review to assess finances, offer money management advice and discuss ideas to increase income while reducing spending.
- Credit report review to understand credit scores and explore ways to improve credit. They can also help dispute inaccurate information on a credit report.
- Debt counseling to identify options, develop a plan and set goals to get out of debt.
- Student loan counseling to help make sense of student loan repayment plans and options for paying down these loans.
- Housing counseling to provide advice on reverse mortgages and foreclosure prevention. GreenPath is also an accredited national housing counseling intermediary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which means they can assist with homebuyer preparation.
Members struggling with debt may benefit from a debt management plan (DMP). A debt management plan could help you to lower your interest rates and pay off debt faster. GreenPath's experts can help set up and manage a structured repayment plan to bring your debt back in good standing. For members, BECU covers all fees associated with DMPs.
How to Contact GreenPath
Call 877-337-3411, GreenPath's dedicated BECU phone number. Financial counselors are available:
- Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time
- Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time
- Saturday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Time
More Resources for Members
As a BECU member, you have free access to information and programs to help you improve your financial well-being, including:
- A free Financial Health Check session to take the pulse on your finances.
- Money Manager budgeting and automated savings tools like Save-Up and Automatic Transfers.
- Financial education, including free seminars and webinars.
- Your FICO® Score in Online Banking.
- New to BECU: Zogo's engaging, bite-sized lessons with games and rewards.
