“If it′s planted in the ground,” Sergio Lozano said, “I can make it grow.” A year-round farm laborer, Lozano works in rice, corn, cotton, and soybean fields from daybreak until sundown to support his wife and two children.
Since arriving in the United States from Mexico 15 years ago, Lozano has also learned how to grow his credit score. He was listening to the radio while driving a tractor when he heard an interview with Mike Ramirez, HOPE’s Little Rock, Arkansas, branch manager. Ramirez was promoting services for hard-working people like Lozano, who have ITIN numbers rather than social security numbers.
“I had no credit and no bank account, but when I heard Mike talking, it was reassuring,” Lozano said. “I felt confident I could call him and explain my situation.”
Lozano took out a credit-building loan through HOPE, then refinanced his 2007 Jeep through Hope Credit Union at a significantly lower interest rate than the original dealer financing. When that same well-used Jeep started spending more time in the shop than in the field, Lozano turned to HOPE for a loan to buy a more reliable 2017 Toyota RAV4.
“When I needed a new car, I knew HOPE would be there to help me. I trust HOPE to give me advice and guide me in situations where I’m not sure what to do,” Lozano said. “Our next step will be buying a house. Having a relationship with HOPE has given me the confidence to think ahead and to plan for a future.”