By Ray Birch
SARTELL, Minn.— When survivors of domestic violence leave an abusive relationship, escaping the physical danger is often only the first hurdle.
The next challenge for survivors can be finding a place to live, getting a job, opening a checking account, establishing credit, and figuring out how to support themselves financially—tasks many Americans take for granted but which can seem overwhelming for someone whose finances have been controlled by an abusive partner.
Research shows financial abuse is present in nearly all domestic violence cases and is one of the primary reasons victims stay with or return to abusive partners. The National Network to End Domestic Violence reports that financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases, with survivors frequently citing financial concerns as a major factor in remaining in or returning to abusive relationships.
That reality is what prompted St. Cloud Financial Credit Union to become one of the first credit unions to participate in FISafe, a national initiative designed to connect domestic violence survivors with financial services and support. The program creates partnerships between financial institutions and domestic violence advocacy organizations to help survivors establish financial independence and long-term stability.
Building A 'Warm Handoff'
The credit union became involved after being approached by the Looped Solutions, which was seeking innovative financial institutions willing to pilot the program.
According to Meggan Schwirtz, chief experience officer at $440-million St. Cloud Financial, the credit union's longstanding community outreach efforts and its relationship with local domestic violence nonprofit Anna Marie's Alliance made it a natural fit.
"FISafe combines education, awareness, referral resources and survivor-focused financial support," Schwirtz said. "It's really a community partnership designed to create meaningful outcomes for survivors."
Rather than operating as a traditional financial literacy program, FISafe creates what Schwirtz calls a coordinated support system.
When a survivor seeks help through Anna Marie's Alliance, advocates can use the program's technology platform to refer that individual directly to the credit union. The survivor is then connected to banking services, financial education and individualized support without having to repeatedly explain the circumstances of the abuse.
"The biggest thing is that the person experiencing domestic violence doesn't have to retell their story again," Schwirtz said. "They don't have to go through the trauma of continuing to tell more people about what's happened to them."
Financial Abuse Often Hidden
While physical abuse receives most public attention, Schwirtz said financial abuse remains one of the least recognized forms of domestic violence.
Studies have found that economic abuse can include controlling access to bank accounts, preventing employment, restricting spending, accumulating debt in a partner's name, withholding financial information or otherwise limiting a victim's ability to achieve independence. Research consistently shows it is one of the most common forms of abuse experienced by survivors.
"It's actually one of the most common yet still least recognized forms of domestic violence," Schwirtz said. "Many survivors end up staying in unsafe situations because they lack those financial independence tools or access to financial resources."
Organizations focused on domestic violence prevention describe financial abuse as the number one reason many victims remain in or return to abusive relationships.
For Schwirtz, those statistics were difficult to ignore.
"When we were told the statistics about how many people end up returning back to a violent situation because of the lack of resources they had, it was staggering," she said.
Creating A Safe Financial Starting Point
Meggan Schwirtz
Many survivors arrive at shelters with little more than personal belongings and few financial resources. Some lack access to bank accounts. Others have damaged credit, no independent savings, or no permanent address. Those realities create barriers to rebuilding their lives, Schwirtz noted.
"If they're going to get a job, they're going to need a bank account," Schwirtz said. "They're going to need a safe place to be able to do that."
Through FISafe, referred survivors can establish checking and savings accounts, receive financial coaching and gain access to products designed to support their transition toward independence. The credit union is also working with Anna Marie's Alliance to develop specialized products tailored specifically to survivors' needs.
Among the ideas being explored are emergency lending options and other financial assistance tools designed to bridge the gap between crisis and stability.
"We're working closely with Anna Marie's Alliance based on what they've seen with survivors and tailoring those products to what those needs are," Schwirtz said.
Training Employees To Recognize The Signs
Participation in the program extends beyond opening accounts. St. Cloud Financial employees have undergone training provided by Anna Marie's Alliance to help them recognize signs that a member may be experiencing domestic violence or financial abuse. The sessions focus on identifying warning signs, understanding survivor needs and learning how to respond appropriately when concerns arise.
"You'd be surprised at how little this is talked about inside of credit unions and inside of the financial world," Schwirtz said. "This continues to be something that's very taboo."
The training also provides employees with information they can use to help family members, friends or community members who may be affected by abuse.
Not About Membership Growth
Anna Marie's Alliance serves hundreds of individuals annually throughout central Minnesota, giving the program significant potential reach. But Schwirtz emphasized the initiative is not intended to drive membership growth or account openings.
"This is not a play for us to get new members. This is not a play for us to open new accounts," she said. "This is a way that we get to help our community. When our communities are stronger, we are stronger as an organization."
That philosophy, she added, aligns closely with the credit union movement’s mission.
Research from the CDC estimates that one in four women experiences intimate partner violence during her lifetime, while the economic impact of intimate partner violence in the United States totals trillions of dollars over victims' lifetimes.
For Schwirtz, those numbers reinforce why financial institutions have a role to play.
"This is where it makes sense for this to live in credit unions because this is what we do—we help the underserved," she said. "How could we pass up this opportunity to partner with such a wonderful organization and bring hope and healing to people who need it most?"