Building brighter futures: Texas Trust Credit Union’s commitment extends beyond finance

When she got the news, she was at work—one of two jobs she juggled daily just to afford college. Standing in the middle of her shift, she opened a notification that instantly brought tears to her eyes: she'd been awarded a $10,000 college tuition scholarship from the Texas Trust Gives Foundation.

"She started crying and she called her mom," said Washima Huq, the foundation's executive director. "And her mom said, 'Well, now you won't have to work as hard, and you can focus on school.'"

This student's emotional moment encapsulates the transformative power of community involvement by Texas Trust Credit Union and its Foundation. Their impact reaches far beyond banking—it changes lives.

A $2-billion institution headquartered in Arlington (in the Dallas metroplex), Texas Trust has 135,000 members and 20 branches around the DFW area, plus one in Athens, Texas and two in San Angelo, Texas. The credit union has consistently made education a priority, annually awarding at least $60,000 in scholarships to students, like in the story shared above, pursuing various levels of education.

Financial education initiatives

Scholarships are only part of Texas Trust's broader commitment to education and community well-being.

Through their Financial Wellbeing Program with the Arlington-Mansfield YMCA, Texas Trust empowers individuals across all ages and professional backgrounds to understand budgeting, credit, and personal finance. Toni Nichols, assistant vice president of public relations, shared how even experienced professionals have found transformative value:

"Their eyes widen at what a budget can do, removing their fear of checking their bank account because they finally have control."

Texas Trust's Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP)-certified staff members are central to the Financial Wellbeing Program's success. FiCEP, a certification program facilitated by America's Credit Unions, equips credit union employees with essential skills to help members make informed financial decisions.

Americans often learn about finances from their families and friends or just go it alone. The need for expert help is real, especially when so many face uncertain economic futures.

Nichols explained that Texas Trust currently has eight FiCEP-certified employees, including branch managers, public relations team members, and internal communications staff. They directly lead and support the program's financial education courses.

Nichols, herself FiCEP-certified, emphasized that integrating staff who actively serve in branches creates a seamless educational experience: "The idea is … crafting an experience where members can come into branches and receive meaningful, personalized financial counseling."

Volunteerism and community engagement

Personalization permeates every initiative at Texas Trust, including in their volunteerism and community engagement. Huq described the significant impact of a financial literacy program funded by Texas Trust in an underserved elementary school, recalling the principal's heartfelt response:

"When they received their grant, it was to fund an elementary-based financial literacy initiative," Huq said. On the final day of the program, the school received a prize for completing the curriculum, she added. "I've never seen kids be so excited about budgeting."

The principal teared up and started crying, Huq remembers:

"I'll never forget, she said, 'Texas Trust chose us. They didn't have to choose us. In fact, nobody chooses us. So (Texas Trust) took a chance. … That speaks volumes.'"

Funded by part of a $10,000 Texas Trust grant, the program aimed to teach elementary and middle school students financial literacy through the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Teachers piloted the program by integrating financial literacy lessons into their curriculum and setting up a Success Store at the end of the quarter. Students were encouraged to manage their funds effectively and make decisions about spending and saving. The program emphasized student ledgers and encouraged responsible financial behavior by allowing students to purchase from the Success Store based on their budgets.

Nichols also shared the inspiring story of their "Filling Backpacks and Bellies" program. Partnering with DeSoto Independent School District, Texas Trust helps provide backpacks filled with nutritious snacks each weekend for about 150 food-insecure students.

"Their only guaranteed meals come from school," Nichols explained, "and we saw an opportunity to partner and help address childhood hunger discreetly and respectfully."

Leadership and mission

Reflecting on their work, Nichols summarized the credit union's broader mission: "Our mission is building brighter financial futures. That's not just about our products. It's about giving resources to help you be a stronger financial partner with us."

Huq passionately underscored how this mission translates into real-world impact: "Everybody knows Texas Trust invests in the community—they give back, their employees give back. Our CEO has a heart to give, and our employees echo that. We give back through our time, talent, and treasury, and you see the difference we're making."