As more Canadians struggle with personal debt and rising interest rates, Access Credit Union has begun hosting a new slate of financial literacy classes.

"There has been a significant amount of talk about financial literacy and how it hasn't been taught in the school system," Larry Davey, President and CEO of Access Credit Union explains, adding they judge their success as a credit union based on their member's success.

"That's one of the big driving forces behind our credit union," Davey says.

Without selling any products or services, the free workshops teach the basics of financial skills, covering topics like basic banking and budgeting, debt smarts, senior financial abuse prevention and homeownership readiness.

"Providing a financial literacy program will empower employees and members of the community to make good financial decisions while supporting two of our co-operative principles, education and concern for community," Davey says.

Janessa Unrau, an employee of Access Credit Union and a Certified Each One Teach One Coach, explains she was excited to get involved in the program.

"It is important that we give back to our communities and one of the ways in which we can do that is by ensuring our community members have the tools and confidence that they need to succeed financially," Unrau says. "We see a need for a program like this and are very excited to offer workshops to our local communities."

Davey explains they hope to have eight more staff members trained to teach the courses this fall.

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A number of local ACU employees have been trained to teach the 17 different workshops for all age groups and demographics