 San Pedro branch held its first Educational Business Expo at Central Park on August 6th.){kind=link}
The St. Francis Xavier Credit Union (SFXCU) San Pedro branch held its first Educational Business Expo at Central Park on August 6th, drawing local businesses, government agencies, and community members to learn more about member services, financial products, and protections.
The one-day expo featured ten exhibitors and a mix of public- and private-sector partners, including Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Atlantic Insurance, Captain Sharks, the Social Security Board, Paint n’ Splash, and several local small businesses selling food, pastries, and drinks. The event aimed to highlight what the credit union offers beyond traditional financial services and to encourage membership and financial literacy across the island.
Organizers said the event was designed as an outreach and informational fair. “We noticed sometimes the members don’t really know all the benefits that they have with the credit union,” said San Pedro Branch Manager Shane Pariente. “They are the members, but they don’t know the benefits, right? And so much less, the wider public might not know either.”
The fair provided visitors with face-to-face explanations of services and opportunities for on-site sign-ups. SFXCU staff were also available to answer questions and provide in-depth information about the credit union’s various services and benefits.
The expo grew from SFXCU’s desire to improve community awareness of the protections and services available to credit union members. Pariente, who has worked with St. Francis Xavier Credit Union for a decade and transferred to San Pedro in July of last year, described the institution’s community-driven approach. “We don’t tell people no. You come in, we want to help you. We will educate,” he said.
Pariente explained that the branch aims to guide members toward solutions tailored to their financial needs while operating within the credit union’s policies. He also hopes to establish the expo as an annual event and expand it in future editions.
Corozal Branch Manager Adriana Manzanilla, who attended the event in support of the San Pedro branch, highlighted several member benefits, including loan protection and share coverage programs. “We have a loan protection program. In case something happens to them, that loan dies with them as well. They don’t need to bear anything, and they don’t burden their loved ones with that loan,” Manzanilla said. She also highlighted $200 student grants for qualifying high school students with active accounts, as well as promotional summer loan terms that allow eligible members who deposit modest sums to access larger loans at reduced rates.
Beyond education, the expo provided information on practical financial services available to members, including automated deposits and ATMs at the San Pedro branch. Attendees also learned about insurance coverage that can match account balances up to specified amounts, funeral expense coverage available for a small annual fee, and assistance with loan and account-related questions.
Organizers said they hope the initiative will encourage membership and strengthen financial awareness within the community. “We had a total of 10 businesses joining us for our first time, and we’ve learned a lot now. Definitely, next time it will be bigger,” Pariente said. “I do believe it could be an annual expo.”
Through the expo, SFXCU provided residents with an opportunity better to understand the financial services and protections available to members while connecting directly with participating businesses and organizations. Organizers hope to build on the response to this year’s inaugural event and return next year with a larger Educational Business Expo in San Pedro.