A new effort to bring business and financial support to north Lake Charles

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) – A partnership between Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services and a local credit union are offering free services to the community.

“We started a conversation about what we can do on our part to help, and financial services became a huge, huge need,” Chad Miller said.

CEO, Chad Miller said the ‘not-for-profit’ Southwest Louisiana Credit Union opened a branch inside the remodeled Southwest Louisiana Center of Health Services. It is a partnership with the intention of meeting a need in north Lake Charles.

“We have a full-service branch inside here at the health center,” Miller said. “We have an employee here that is full time. She is really dedicated to one-on-one financial counseling, opening accounts, and doing loans for members.”

Miller said this ‘micro branch’ offers almost all of the same services as their main branches.

Director, Dianna Ross said it removes a barrier to health care and financial support in north Lake Charles.

“Coming in and talking to someone about a loan, refinancing their vehicle or just coming to get money that they need for the weekend,” Ross said. “I don’t think I can explain how important that is to someone who has means but especially to someone who has no means.”

The permanent branch is a resource that she said is so important to that community.

“For us as a community health center, it meant that we were able now to service the entire person- mind, body, soul, financially,” Ross said.

A community meeting will be held next Tuesday, April 26 at the Allen P. August Multipurpose Complex starting at 6 p.m. The meeting is for the community to give input on what they’d like to see happen to the other side of the health center’s building.