The information shown on this site, and contained within the printable materials, is designed to provide you with information and resources to help you better understand events and choices that impact your personal finances. The information does not identify every resource or informational site available; it does provide a variety of resources to help you develop your financial literacy skills and knowledge.
Note: some resources may contain additional links to more resources; some resources are free while others may require payment for materials or services provided. The Office of Consumer Credit does not endorse or specifically recommend one resource over another. Click here to download a copy.
| Consumer Protection Resources | ||
|---|---|---|
| Attorney General of Texas |
https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/consumer-protection https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/seniors/senior-consumers 800.621.0508 |
Focus on unfair and deceptive business practices that target seniors, as well as consumer education for seniors and their families. |
| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) |
855.411.2372 |
The CFPB enforces federal consumer financial laws to protect consumers in the marketplace. The CFPB takes consumer complaints and monitors financial markets for new risks to consumers. |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) |
877.275.3342 |
The FDIC’s Consumer Response Center is responsible for investigating all types of consumer complaints about FDIC-supervised institutions and responding to consumer inquiries about consumer laws and regulations. |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas |
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ Community Development Department supports the Federal Reserve System’s economic growth and financial stability objectives by promoting programs and policies that stabilize neighborhoods, assist small businesses and improve the financial stability of low- and moderate-income households. |
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| National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling | https://www.homeownershipstandards.org/ | A set of guidelines for quality homeownership and counseling services. Industry professionals who adopt these standards can be trusted to provide consistent, high quality advice. |
| Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) |
http://occc.texas.gov/consumers 800.538.1579 |
Complaints may be filed with the OCCC concerning: pawn transactions; secondary mortgage and home equity loans; motor vehicle sales financing, property tax loans; payday and auto title loans; debt management and debt settlement providers, crafted precious metal dealers, and registered creditors. |
| Financial Assistance | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2-1-1 Texas |
Dial 2.1.1 or 1.877.541.7905 |
2-1-1 Texas is a free, anonymous social service hotline that connects individuals with information and resources in your local community. |
| Financial Coaching / Education | ||
|---|---|---|
| Financial Literacy Coalition of Central Texas (FLCCT) |
512.456.8630 |
Free financial education classes and financial literacy resources for individuals residing in the Austin area. |
| United Ways of Texas |
512.651.1149 |
Local chapters provide financial education and individual counseling to increase the financial stability and health of their community. |
| Homebuyer Education / Housing Counseling | ||
|---|---|---|
| NeighborWorks America |
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. |
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| Texas Financial Toolbox | www.texasfinancialtoolbox.com/ | Connection to classes, events, one-on-one counseling and home buyer programs to help consumers reach their home ownership goals. |
| U.S. Department of housing and Urban Development | https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-counseling/ | HUD provides tools to current and prospective homeowners, renters so that they can make responsible choices to address their housing needs in light of their financial situations. |
| Online Resources | ||
|---|---|---|
| Better Money Habits, in partnership with KHANACADEMY |
Education on credit, debit, savings & budgeting, home-ownership, auto, retirement, college, privacy & security, personal banking and taxes & income. |
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| ClearingHouse, Jump$tart | http://clearinghouse.jumpstart.org/ | Online library of financial education resources for teachers, parents, caregivers, and anyone committed to financial smarts for students. |
| Cornerstone Financial Education | https://www.csfedu.org/ | Education resource on credit, budgeting, home-buying and debt. |
| Dallas Federal Reserve – Building Wealth | www.dallasfed.org/-/media/microsites/cd/wealth /online/index.html |
Personal finance education resource that presents an overview of wealth-building strategies for consumers. |
| Feed the Pig | www.feedthepig.org/ | Helpful tools, articles, and tips to reduce debt and grow your savings. |
| Hands on banking | www.handsonbanking.org | An online learning center offers resources for anyone who wants to learn more about money management. The financial articles can help you find answers to your questions, from budgeting tips to buying a home, to improving your credit. |
| Money Smart – A financial Education Program | https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer /moneysmart/ |
Comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. |
| MyMoney.Gov | www.mymoney.gov | Government website providing education to help manage and grow your money. |
| Smart About Money (SAM) | www.smartaboutmoney.org | In-depth guided learning courses and financial education tools. |
| The Mint | http://www.themint.org/index.html | This site provides tools to help parents as well as educators teach children to manage money wisely and develop good financial habits: the building blocks for a secure future. |
| The Savvy Senior | www.savvysenior.org | Links to organizations that provide resources for seniors on various financial and life planning topics. |
| Texas Financial Education Endowment (TFEE) Recipients | ||
|---|---|---|
| Center for Transforming Lives |
https://www.transforminglives.org 817.332.6191 |
The Center for Transforming Lives helps homeless and impoverished women, children, and families move from poverty to independence through homeless services, early childhood development and financial empowerment services. |
| Community Development Corporation of Brownsville |
http://www.cdcbrownsville.org/ 956.541.4955 |
CDCB is a multifaceted affordable housing organization devoted to utilizing collaborative partnerships to create sustainable communities across the Rio Grande Valley through quality education, model financing, efficient home design, and superior construction. |
| Easter Seals Greater Houston |
http://www.eastersealshouston.org/ 713.838.9050 |
Easter Seals offer help, hope and answers to people of all ages with disabilities and their families. Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our community. |
| El Paso Credit Union HOAP, Inc |
915.838.9608 |
El Paso Affordable Housing offers free financial education, home ownership workshops, credit counseling, and promoting savings, while developing loan products and financial services that will empower low to moderate members to access low cost capital, develop family assets, build wealth, and credit worthiness. |
| Family Pathfinders |
817.731.1173 |
The Mentoring program matches trained volunteer mentors with families struggling to overcome the bonds of poverty, homelessness and reentry after incarceration. The Financial Capability program, which includes financial education and financial coaching, helps low and moderate income people attain long-term economic stability by building skills to address personal needs for improving financial behaviors. |
|
Family Service Association of San Antonio (FSASA) |
210.299.2400 |
Family Service created a Life Success Model. The Life Success Model focuses on broader areas of service that follow a continuum of care that addresses the needs of our clients in a more holistic manner through integrated services with key focuses on: education, counseling & seniors, job training & financial stability and parent & community involvement. |
|
Foundation Communities |
737.717.4000 |
Foundation Communities creates housing where families succeed. They provide people with an affordable, attractive place to call home, as well as opportunities right at their doorstep to transform their lives through education, financial stability and health resources. |
|
Texas Council on Economic Education |
http://economicstexas.org/ |
TCEE’s goal is to provide teachers with hands-on lessons and programs that allow students to practice implementing real life economic and personal financial skills, and thus pave the way to a life of economic security and a Smarter Texas. |
|
Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) |
www.tsahc.org |
Targets the housing needs of low-income families and other underserved populations who do not have acceptable housing options through conventional financial channels through initiatives such as first time home buyer grants and other down payment assistance programs. |
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Wesley Mission Center |
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The Wesley Mission Center provides financial coaching services to members in crisis situations. The center has recently launched a Working Families Success Model (WFS) approach to serving clients which promotes bundled services in 3 key areas including income supports, financial coaching, and other financial and employment services. |
REVISED APRIL 2018