Hawaiʻi County has announced the opening of its newly established Financial Empowerment Centers (FECs).   The centers, established through a partnership between the national nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Hawai’i Community Foundation, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), and Hawai`i First Federal Credit Union (HFFCU), offer free professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a public service to residents.

Counseling sessions can range from 30 – 60 minutes, with no limitation to the number of free sessions an individual can participate in. The FECs are staffed with professionally trained financial counselors who can help residents 18 and older, regardless of income, manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products. Financial counselors can also make referrals to other services and organizations as needed.

Initial appointments can be requested online on any of our service providers websites or you can call them directly to schedule an appointment.

For more information visit https://www.hawaiifirstfcu.com/financial-empowerment-center or call (808) 933-6600

AP Photo/LM Otero, File