Central Bank launches financial education center

Provided by Central Bank

Rebecca Greene is the program's director.

Central Bank in Springfield is debuting a new financial education center in the Queen City.

Dubbed ProsperU, the center provides in-person and online financial education classes that are free to the public, according to a news release. ProsperU, 1818 S. Stewart Ave., is located across from Central Bank's Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue Springfield headquarters.

“This is a financial education concept that matches Central Bank’s community banking philosophy. If the individuals and businesses in our community are doing well, then our bank will do well,” said Joselyn Baldner, CEO and president of Central Bank, in the release. “Our ability to offer free financial literacy classes including counseling and programming to individuals, small businesses who want to grow, and nonprofits and their constituents, allows us to truly serve our community.”

Central Bank has named Rebecca Greene, its community development officer, as director of ProsperU.

Andrew Tasset, Central Bank vice president and marketing manager, said this morning that ProsperU would be available to anyone, not just its customers, year-round.

"We wanted to do this to better our community, to better financial education in our community," he said, noting expenses are being covered by the bank as a charitable endeavor. "We have a dedicated facility. We have a dedicated person."

The Stewart Avenue building previously was used as a training facility for Central Bank, Tasset said.

ProsperU classes cover finance basics, such as creating a budget and fixing bad credit, as well as intensive topics that include buying a first home and managing money after a divorce, according to the release. Personal one-on-one meetings also can be scheduled.

“Money can sometimes be intimidating, and everyone should know how to handle financial challenges, no matter where they are in their financial journey, with no judgment," Greene said in the release.

Central Bank is scheduled to host an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for ProsperU at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Classes start June 8, according to Central Bank’s ProsperU website.