June 23, 2025
Contact: Charlene Shirk, Assistant Vice President of Public Relations
shirkc@vystarcu.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VyStar Expands Free Financial Fitness Classes to Empower Jacksonville Residents Amid Rising Financial Distress
Your Money, Your Future: Join VyStar’s Free Financial Workshops
JACKSONVILLE, FL - VyStar Credit Union is continuing its commitment to financial fitness by offering a new series of free Financial Fitness classes through the end of the year at The Corner at Debs Store in Jacksonville’s historic Eastside. Hosted at the VyStar Financial Fitness Center on the second floor of The Corner at Debs Store (1478 Florida Avenue), these monthly classes are designed to help individuals and families gain confidence in managing their finances. Each session is led by financial experts and includes practical strategies for budgeting, credit management, and debt reduction.
“VyStar’s role in providing financial education and security is reflected in our free educational seminars that are open to the entire community,” said Lysa Barbano, VyStar SVP and Florida Market President. “We believe equipping individuals with the knowledge they need to manage credit, maximize banking resources, and protect against fraud empowers them to make informed decisions that can lead to a more secure and prosperous future, benefiting themselves, their families and the community as a whole.”
Upcoming Class Schedule:
- July 30 – From Dream to Doorstep: Navigating Homeownership, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
- August 27 – Managing Your Finances: Veteran Edition, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
- September 24 – Smart Start: Buy Better, Spend Less, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
- October 29 – Keys to the Right Car Loan, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
- November 19 – From Stress to Strategy: Making Debt Disappear, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
“You can never know enough about resources and finances, just how to live better, work better, do better for your family, and for yourself,” said regular attendee Kimmi Walker. The need for financial education is more urgent than ever. A recent WalletHub survey ranked Jacksonville as the third most financially distressed city in the U.S., citing rising debt levels and credit challenges.
Registration is required and with attendance growing steadily, early registration is encouraged at vystarcu.org/debsstoreseminars. In addition to in-person classes, VyStar offers a robust suite of free online tools and resources, including budgeting calculators, credit score monitoring, and educational articles available to members and non-members alike at vystarcu.org/financialfitness. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to sharpen your money management skills, VyStar is here to help every step of the way.
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About VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with 78 full-service branches across Florida and Georgia, 1 million members and assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the top mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,300 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. VyStar members have access to 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.