Alejandra seluja, CUDE CCUE

Alejandra Seluja has worked with credit unions of all asset sizes throughout the United States. Her work is focused on developing programs and services to support credit unions in their outreach to immigrant communities. This includes Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certifications, recertifications, grant management and compliance and grant writing, as well as organizational assessments and strategic review of operations to ensure readiness of credit unions for serving immigrant communities. Prior to focusing on consulting, Alejandra led a full-service bilingual branch concentrated on providing mainstream and alternative financial services to new immigrants. Through her vision and leadership, this branch continues to be the fastest-growing branch in the credit union.

Alejandra also led the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions’s national initiative to create financial inclusion for immigrant members, and was the field researcher for the study “BEYOND FINANCIAL ACCESS: Striving for Deeper Immigrant Financial Inclusion,” a study to better understand how to reach immigrants and how to help them use financial products and services at the credit union to build greater financial stability.

Alejandra’s passion for credit unions expands beyond the United States, having also participated in the 2012 World Council of Credit Unions immersion program in Guatemala.

Financial Inclusion for Immigrant Members

Integrated consumer and mortgage lending policy and procedure development for serving ITIN-holder immigrant borrowers.

Business development, marketing, and effective outreach to Latino immigrant and other underserved communities.

Experience in virtually every area of credit union branch operations: teller, loan officer, mortgage loan officer, and branch manager.

Certification, grant writing, and compliance for CDFI credit unions and loan funds.

Established effective outreach partnerships with key community organizations.

Translation services: marketing collateral, websites, member communication.

CELEBRATED ACHIEVEMENTS

Consultant (ongoing) for national project to coordinate efforts among community, government agencies, and credit unions to integrate immigrant members into mainstream financial systems.

Researcher (ongoing) for national project to prove theories about immigrant use of financial products and long-term results.

Certified Public Translator English/Spanish and Spanish/English. Journalism and accounting background.

Certified Public Translator for the County of Santa Fe. Her work focuses on the translation of ballots for non-native Spanish-speakers.

Development of bilingual financial literacy program for credit unions.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK

City of Santa Fe Immigration Committee, Chair (since 2011)

Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Board Member (2011-2012)

Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Board Member (2012-2016)

Rising Stars in the Southwest, founding Board Member (2011-2012)