SunTrust Banks, Inc., a pioneer in offering HOPE Inside in its branches, announced plans to expand the HOPE Inside program to Atlanta Public Schools teachers and employees. HOPE Inside is an award-winning financial empowerment model provided by global for-purpose organization Operation HOPE. This sponsorship is part of the company’s onUp movement to advance financial confidence across America.

Traditionally, HOPE Inside installs Operation HOPE financial well-being coaches in bank branches, government offices, grocery stores, and other community locations to provide financial dignity counseling, including credit and money management, homeownership preparedness and small business development programs, all offered at no cost to the client. HOPE Inside the Workplace is a segment of the HOPE Inside model that is offered as an employee wellness benefit at organizations.

Through this new partnership with APS, an Operation HOPE financial well-being coach will have an office on site at the District’s central office, the Center for Learning and Leadership Building, located at 130 Trinity Avenue, SW, in downtown Atlanta. The financial well-being coach will be available to meet with APS employees every day of the week – either in the office at the CLL, or at the employee’s work site.

SunTrust currently sponsors financial well-being coaches in 17 HOPE Inside branch locations throughout Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The APS partnership will now bring this programming to more than 5,000 teachers and employees, who serve students across Atlanta.

The HOPE Inside network now stands at 100 locations across the country, with more than 450 new locations scheduled to open within the next 18 months. This is tied to the goal of 1,000 operational locations by 2020. Locally, HOPE Inside the Workplace is currently offered to employees of the Atlanta Police Department, also through sponsorship by SunTrust, and Hyatt Hotels.

“Throughout our more than five year partnership with Operation HOPE, we have helped nearly 18,000 clients move from financial stress to confidence,” said Jenna Kelly, SunTrust Georgia Division CEO. “Our purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being across America aligns well with Operation HOPE’s mission of financial empowerment. SunTrust looks forward to continuing our shared commitment through this natural extension with Atlanta Public Schools.”

“This commitment by SunTrust, our valued strategic partner, will contribute to the financial wellness of thousands of our local teachers and administrators,” said John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE. “Personal financial stress is the most common cause of stress in the workplace—we are grateful for the partnership, and commend Atlanta Public Schools leadership for taking this step to empower employees.”

“We are grateful to Operation HOPE and SunTrust for bringing the HOPE Inside program to Atlanta Public Schools (APS),” said Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. “Having this program at APS means that our employees have access to professional financial counselors who can provide them with sound economic advice. HOPE Inside is an empowering program for our staff, and we are so excited to be part of it.”