Strata Credit Union to celebrate past and present Veronica Jacuinde

Strata Credit Union will celebrate Día de los Muertos with a member appreciation event, on Friday, Nov. 1, at their Wasco branch. The gathering will include activities such as face painting, pastries, exciting raffles and giveaways, including a chance to take home a limited-edition tumbler.

"We established the Día de los Muertos Member Appreciation Event to celebrate and honor both past and present family members, embodying the rich cultural traditions that resonate deeply within our community," explained Nicolas Caver, marketing officer for the credit union. "This gathering not only allows us to pay tribute to those we've lost but also creates a warm space for members to come together in love and remembrance, celebrating the bonds that unite us all."

Caver emphasized the credit union's commitment to community engagement. "We also wanted to do this because we feel that there are too many people that are underserved and underbanked within this community. We care about the community and its members. We attend some events here and there, but we don't host many events at our branch, so people may not always know where to find us other than through our billboards. That's why we saw this as a great opportunity to connect with people in Wasco and reach out to the broader community."

Community Outreach Specialist Jai Gutierrez outlined the credit union's mission: "Our key goal is to empower our community with the essential tools for financial success. We understand that individuals from lower socioeconomic groups often face challenges such as lower credit scores, higher debt and limited savings. By addressing these issues head-on, we aim to create a supportive environment that fosters financial literacy and resilience, helping everyone achieve their financial dreams."

In addition to celebrating the cultural heritage of Día de los Muertos, the event aims to encourage community members to visit the credit union and discover the services available to them. "To encourage people in the community to come into the bank and see how great it is and learn about some of the services we have to offer. Something notable for a community like Wasco, where there are many immigrants, is that we offer ITIN lending for members who don't have a social security number. So, if they have an ITIN number, they can use the services at the bank. We'll have information on hand about that," Caver explained.

Gutierrez also highlighted the credit union's commitment to inclusivity: "In addition, we have bilingual staff to help Spanish speakers. All our staff comes highly trained. They are friendly and always willing to go above and beyond to deliver excellent customer service."

The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at 2830 Hwy 46, in the Walmart shopping center. For more information, call 661-327-9461.