Case Study: Employee Loan Fund

When you provide hardworking employees with access to fair, affordable capital, they don't just pay it back—they thrive.

Today, we are highlighting our partnership with Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana.Together, we launched a 0% interest, credit-building employee loan fund designed to disrupt the cycle of predatory payday lenders (who often charge an astronomical 410% APR) and alleviate everyday cash-flow constraints. The impact of this program in its very first year speaks for itself:

💸 110 no-interest loans were distributed to staff members

💲 $65,482 lent to help team members cover basic needs, rent, educational expenses and emergency expenses like car repairs.

💰 $13,096+ saved by employees in predatory interest and fees.

👏 0 loan defaults—proving that community and trust-based lending works.

Numbers tell half the story, but the true impact lies in the peace of mind provided to the workforce. One VOA SELA employee shared:

"I am going to use my VOA loan to repair my car... Hurricane season is about to start, and I need to make sure I have reliable transportation for when I need to evacuate. I have never had an employer do this, and I am so grateful. I am so glad I can avoid the payday lenders and still be prepared for the inevitable emergency evacuation."

By utilizing the Giving Credit platform, VOA SELA didn't just offer an emergency cushion; they gave employees a way to formalize peer-to-peer borrowing and build a documented credit history to unlock mainstream financial institutions down the road. A huge thank you to the VOA SELA team for pioneering this benefit and proving that a financial safety net built on character and trust is a win for both employers and employees.

🔗 Check out the full case study and get in touch with us if you want to start your own loan fund for your clients or employees!