Why spend hundreds of dollars a year at a check cashing company when you
can deposit your own checks and pay your bills at no additional cost?
can deposit your own checks and pay your bills at no additional cost?
Bank on Rockford is a partnership between the Illinois State Treasurer's Office, financial regulatory agencies, community organizations and financial institutions, like First Northern Credit Union. Our goal is to help you and other unbanked individuals in the Rockford area into the financial mainstream by helping you open a bank account. We believe Bank on Rockford will help thousands of Rockfordians get on the path to financial security.
WHY BANK ON ROCKFORD?
Too many Illinois residents are unbanked. In our state, 370,000 households do not have checking accounts, including 4,600 households in Rockford. The average unbanked working household in Illinois pays $574 – approximately 2% of their income – to cash payroll checks every year.
Being unbanked can put your financial future and personal safety in jeopardy. A bank account is the first step to financial security. Without one, it's harder to get well-priced car loans, credit cards or mortgages. Plus, it's not safe. Storing cash at home or carrying a large amount of cash can make you a magnet for crime.
| HOW DO I OPEN AN ACCOUNT? First Northern will help you open an account even if you have had trouble with a prior account or if you are not a U.S. Citizen. We will accept Mexico Matricula Consular I.D. Cards as primary identification, as well as Consular I.D. cards from Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, South Korea and Peru. If you need Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assistance, please visit one of the following authorized Acceptance Agents at: Professional Accounting & Tax Service 2955 11th St., Rockford, IL 61109 | 815.399.0301 H&R Block 3720 N Main, Rockford, IL 61103 | 815.654.8848 An Acceptance Agent is an individual, business or organization (college, financial institution, accounting firm, etc.) authorized by the IRS to assist individuals in obtaining ITINs. Some Acceptance Agents may charge a fee. |
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| THE FIRST NORTHERN AIM CHECKING ACCOUNT Open a free AIM Checking account with First Northern Credit Union. CLICK HERE FOR AN APPLICATION » AIM CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES
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First Northern is offering unbanked individuals a "starter" or "second chance" account. These accounts will help unbanked individuals begin saving, avoid check cashing fees and gain access to lower-cost credit.
We are also promoting financial literacy education through several local community organizations like Family Credit Management Services, the United Way of Rock River Valley, and La Voz Latina.
Family Credit Management Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people become debt free. Contact one of their certified credit counselors to find out more about their credit counseling services and debt management program.
Family Credit Management Services
4304 Charles Street, Rockford, IL 61108
(888) 994-3328
United Way of Rock River Valley
612 North Main Street, Suite 300
Rockford, IL 61103
(815) 968-5400
La Voz Latina
412 Market Street, Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 965-5784
And to learn everything you ever needed or wanted to know about credit, please visit First Northern's What's My Score informational website. Learn how to buy a car, identity theft, how to get a free credit report, and much more!
For more information about the Bank on Rockford program, call 815.987.7433 or visit bankonrockford.org.
