Written by Enevy Leach, Operation HOPE Financial Wellbeing Coach

Maximiliano works at his family’s small janitorial business, with a vision to expand. However, when he applied for a credit card, he was declined because he didn’t have credit established. This was when his personal banker saw an opportunity to refer him to Operation HOPE.

He was connected with Financial Wellbeing Coach Enevy Leach, and was very grateful that she could speak with him in Spanish since he and his family are immigrants from Guatemala, and his native language is a dialect.

Throughout their year of coaching sessions, Maximiliano learned the fundamentals of credit, followed the recommended steps to build it, and went from a zero credit score to a 762 FICO score. He also referred his mother to Operation HOPE so that she could equally build her credit.

Now that their financial foundation is established, the family is eager to grow their business in the near future. Here’s what Maximiliano shared with Enevy:

“Yo le agradezco a la Sra. Enevy de Operation HOPE toda su ayuda, atención y paciencia, hace casi un año que me recomendaron con ella aquí en Bank of America, yo no tenía crédito, el banco no me podía aprobar para una tarjeta y ahora ya tengo una puntuación de 762, me ha motivado para seguir trabajando en cumplir más metas, como ampliar mi pequeño negocio.”

“I am very grateful to Mrs. Enevy from Operation HOPE for all her help, attention, and patience. Almost a year ago, I was referred to her here at Bank of America. I had no credit, the bank couldn’t approve me for a credit card, and now I have a credit score of 762. She has motivated me to keep working towards achieving more goals, like expanding my small business.”

Operation HOPE’s commitment to meeting people where they are has helped Maximiliano and his family feel seen and supported—better yet, they are on their way to financial freedom.

Learn more about Operation HOPE’s Hispanic Initiatives.

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