Operation HOPE announced today that SunTrust has committed one million dollars over two years to expand adult and youth financial empowerment services. 

The contribution will help fund project management of the HOPE Inside program, in which Operation Hope representatives co-locate in bank branches to provide financial counsel to communities.  Counseling includes homeownership, credit and money management, earned income tax credit education, "Banking on our Future" for youth, small business issues and entrepreneurship training.  In addition, a portion of the financial support from SunTrust will be used for the expansion and management of HOPE Inside Plus, a program designed to empower existing bank representatives to provide these services.

"SunTrust is the best kind of partner – one that believes you can do well by doing good," said Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant. "This grant will allow Operation HOPE to provide meaningful financial literacy education to low- to moderate-income communities. We applaud SunTrust in their commitment to build strong communities through this award, which will help us serve the unbanked and underserved."

"SunTrust is pleased to support programs that foster financial well-being," said SunTrust Chairman and CEO William H. Rogers, Jr.  "An important way that SunTrust fulfills its purpose is by ensuring that all consumers have access to the education they need to make critical financial decisions. The partnership with Operation HOPE allows us to reach more people with high quality financial empowerment services."

In 2013, SunTrust announced HOPE Inside locations in Atlanta, Memphis and Washington D.C.  To date, SunTrust's HOPE Inside locations have reached more than 2,000 individuals with financial literacy education.  HOPE Inside counselors at SunTrust branches have helped more than 1,700 individuals overcome financial obstacles ranging from foreclosure prevention to creditworthiness, preparedness for homeownership and small business support.