Finding a Way Forward Through Education
Caleb grew up in a lower-income area of East Houston, in a three-bedroom home with six siblings. No one in his family had ever gone to college, but Caleb was determined to change that.
“I knew I had to get myself out and the way to do that would be education,” he recalls. “UT opened that up for me. I really lived my college experience up,” he reminisces. “I came out of the closet, found friends, and made meaningful connections.”
Discovering UFCU and Building Financial Confidence
Like many first-generation students, Caleb faced unexpected financial hurdles. Early on, he ended up with a predatory credit card from a big bank, before he had the chance to learn how interest and credit utilization worked.
“I was told ‘hey, by the way, you can get $1000 today!’ Not knowing what a credit card was, how to manage it, what credit utilization is, that I had to pay back in time, not even what interest was, [put me in a pickle],” he recalls.
That’s when Caleb turned to UFCU. “Y’all were so kind. UFCU explained everything to me, it was affordable to open an account,” he shares. “[UFCU offered] financial literacy classes and credit utilization classes [that were all] very instrumental to me.”
Through these classes he learned about credit, credit history, and how to diversify his credit. With his newfound knowledge, he began to move his credit score in the right direction.
“I went from a 400-credit score to over an 800. UFCU helped teach me that so I can now offer that knowledge to other people too.”
Support That Goes the Extra Mile
When Caleb landed a job at the Arc of the Capital Area, he realized he needed a car to get to and from work. But another question came up: “how am I going to afford one monthly.” UFCU was there to help with affordable auto loans and flexible payment options.
“I was already feeling defeated. [However], even though I had checking [account], I wasn’t aware of [UFCU] auto loans,” he recalls. “I was able to consolidate my loan and bring my interest down to like 3% [Annual Percentage Yield]. The person was able to walk me through the steps… It’s amazing.”
Life Reimagined with UFCU
Today, Caleb owns a home in Austin and no longer lives paycheck to paycheck “I feel for the families I serve or the ones I grew up with,” he says reflecting on the challenges of growing up in an underserved community — a reality he once thought impossible to overcome.
“It’s so hard not knowing what you’re going to do tomorrow or if your electricity is going to be on. It’s so nice now not to have to worry about that, and I am thankful for UFCU. I honestly do not think I would be here today without [them],” he shares. With his dedication to supporting Central Texans with disabilities, he also mentors young people, sharing the resources and guidance UFCU provided him as he navigated his path to adulthood.
Ready to strengthen your financial future? Learn more about credit-building tools, financial education classes, and personalized support at UFCU.org/Learn.
Member Caleb A
Member since 2016
Services Everyday Banking, Auto