ACCIÓN Helps Immigrants Get Credit

Juan Pablo Angel, international soccer superstar and member of the New York Red Bulls will join ACCIÓN, AIG, Harlem Community Development Corporation and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, to raise awareness and to emphasize the importance of immigrants building credit in the United States.

Immigrants arriving in the United States are greeted with a blank credit slate, severely limiting their ability to negotiate everyday financial transactions such as renting an apartment, financing a business and obtaining a credit card. Often, immigrants turn to informal debt to get by, borrowing from predatory lenders at interest rates that can top 600% annually. 

Without a credit history, immigrants face challenges in every day financial transactions such as getting a credit card, a loan, or even a cell phone contract.

Starting this month (April, 2008), through a new program instituted by ACCIÓN USA in partnership with AIG and entitled, “Build Your Credit, immigrants without a credit history will be able to take the first steps towards building credit. Access to credit can have a life-changing impact on immigrant New Yorkers. ACCIÓN’s “Build Your Credit” campaign will empower immigrants with credit-building resources, featuring a series of educational workshops, many at partner locations throughout New York City.

To kick off this celebrated campaign, on April 29th at 6:00 pm, international soccer superstar and member of the New York Red Bulls soccer team, Juan Pablo Angel will join ACCIÓN New York, in partnership with AIG, Harlem Community Development Corporation, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, the immigrant community and the public, at Adam Clayton Powell Office Building located at 163 West 125th Street (at Malcolm X Blvd.), 8th Floor, New York, NY 10027, to raise awareness and to emphasize the importance of immigrants building credit in the United States.  Juan Pablo Angel will also be available for autograph signing.

An hour-long seminar led by ACCIÓN credit experts will follow, walking participants through practical steps to building a credit history in the U.S.

To learn more, visit www.ACCIÓNnewyork.org/credit.

For launch event registration, please call (212) 387-0377 x323

Individuals interested in attending a workshop should visit www.ACCIÓNnewyork.org/credit for dates, locations, and registration information.

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