Thank you for your interest in financial wellness in Oregon. Supported by Treasury’s Financial Empowerment Advisory Team, this collaborative newsletter highlights efforts statewide to help Oregonians on their paths to financial security, solvency, and success. Interested in being added to our financial wellness mailing list? Submit your request to: Eric.Engelson@ost.state.or.us
Summer is a prime time to explore our beautiful state, from the coast to the starry skies of southeast Oregon. Wherever you like to take a break, remember to not take a vacation from financial savviness.
No matter the season or where your summer adventures take you, bad actors want to separate you from your money. It pays to stay alert - Americans reported losing more than $12 billion to fraud last year, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Taking a moment to be skeptical can mean the difference between an exciting adventure and a bad trip.
As your State Treasurer, I’m excited to convene the Oregon Financial Empowerment Advisory Team (FEAT) at our annual in-person meeting on Tuesday, August 5, at Treasury’s Tigard office. In addition to highlighting and advancing financial wellness statewide, the Team also helps guide Treasury’s efforts to make financial empowerment tools more prevalent, relevant, and accessible when Oregonians need them.
I encourage you to join us at next month’s meeting! More details about the upcoming meeting are shared below. I hope to meet you there!
Growing Financial Coaching Program Looks To Expand In Mid-Valley
In its first five years, a one-to-one confidential financial coaching program in the mid-Willamette Valley has given 169 Oregonians a free personal guide to improve their financial situations. Simply put:
It’s helping.
A majority of participants – 73% of whom are women and 27% are Latino – reported creating spending plans (91%), increasing savings (80%) and reducing debt (61%). In addition, two thirds of participants took steps to improve their credit scores, leading to an average increase of 57 points.
Now, after initially serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, the $tand By Me Oregon program is expanding into Marion County this year – and hopes someday to facilitate financial coaching statewide, said program manager Alicia Lucke.
The nonprofit program is based on a model in Delaware, and early Oregon efforts have been supported by a number of grants, including from the Oregon Community Foundation. The program is administered through the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, which helps train volunteers and connect them to clients.
Most people meet with coaches for about three months, but there is no cut-off date, Lucke said. “We will be with you as long as you want us to be.”
Albany mother Melissa Wright, a two-year client, said: “My coach, Rob, has been an asset to me over the past year. I picked some financial goals and he has coached and supported me all along the way. I’m so thankful! “
Training for financial mentors will be in August in Corvallis, and both English and Spanish speaking volunteers are needed.
Financial educators and advocates invited to in-person meeting on August 5
Do you help improve financial confidence in Oregon?
The Oregon financial Empowerment Advisory Team’s annual in-person meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Oregon State Treasury office in Tigard. The address is 16290 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road.
A public-private partnership and chaired by State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, the Advisory Team augments and amplifies financial education and wellbeing programs, seeks to improve equity and accessibility of financial education, and advances public policy improvements.
As part of the agenda, attendees will be invited to introduce themselves and their efforts.
Bend Educator, Portland Nonprofit Honored As 2025 Financial Champions
Every Oregonian benefits from financial learning, financial inclusion and financial confidence. The annual Financial Empowerment Awards recognize champions who go the extra mile to help put students and our neighbors on more stable financial footing.
The 2025 honorees were announced as part of Financial Literacy Month.
Financial Empowerment Educator of the Year: Bekki Tucker, Caldera High School (Bend). Tucker is lauded for her work in developing personal finance curricula for the Bend-La Pine School District and for contributing to statewide guidelines for the new personal finance graduation requirement.
Financial Empowerment Community Champion: UPLIFT Leadership (Portland). This nonprofit empowers teens with career exploration, employment skills, and budgeting knowledge, helping them assess job market realities and manage future finances.
Treasurer Steiner emphasized the vital link between financial know-how and overall wellbeing, stating, " Because of the continued passion and expertise of our Financial Empowerment Award honorees, we can see firsthand how investing in financial knowledge pays dividends for all Oregonians."
Nominations came from across the state and the winners were selected by a subcommittee of the Financial Empowerment Advisory Team. Nominations for the 2026 awards will open in November.
State of Oregon Happenings
Down Payment Assistance Helped 269 People Buy Houses In 2024
Homeownership helps Oregonians to invest in themselves, their families and their communities. A state-backed financing program helped to make that dream possible for 269 Oregonians in 2024.
Administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services in partnership with housing agencies across the state, the Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program disbursed almost $10 million to homebuyers, with an average of $28,315 per homebuyer for homes across Oregon that cost, on average, $339,689.
Of those homebuyers, 56% identified as first-generation and 55% identified as people of color.
The program was created in 2011 and has helped 1,543 households since. Learn more from Housing and Community Services.
Free Resources Being Submitted For New Personal Finance Class
Starting with the class of 2027, Oregon students will need to complete a semester or equivalent of personal financial education instruction, under legislation that passed in 2023. Districts can seek a waiver to delay the requirement for a year due to lack of adequate staffing.
While the new law requires students take a course, it did not include funding to buy curriculum. The Oregon Department of Education has created a shared “Oregon Open Learning Hub” site where the public and curriculum writers can submit materials that are “openly licensed” -- and can be used by educators for free.
Department content specialists are curating submitted materials to ensure they are appropriate for students and align to the state’s framework for the courses.
As of July 3, there were more than 400 different resources submitted. They include lectures, news articles, lesson plans, videos and even a “Shady Sam” arcade game. The public is also welcome to view the materials … and possibly learn a thing or two.
Division of Financial Regulation launches investor education guide
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation’s new Investor Guide is a useful resource for both new and experienced investors, with accurate, unbiased, and easy to understand information to help people make the best decisions about investing.
In addition to the new guide, agency employees are available to provide presentations on investment topics such as understanding differences between investment products, key investing principles, how to save for retirement, understanding differences between types of investment professionals, and how to spot and avoid investing fraud.
Email the agency to schedule an investing basics presentation, and visit the website to explore other financial education resources.
DHS Tax Filing Program Helps Record Number Of Participants
The Oregon Department of Human Services Tax Infrastructure Grant Program offered free preparation help to a record number of low-income Oregonians, with 20,000 returns filed – a five-fold increase from three years ago.
The program partners with culturally specific and responsive organizations, universities, high schools and tribal governments to provide free tax services, with grants and the help of more than 600 volunteers. The average income of clients is around $30,000.
In 2025, the participating filers claimed $30 million in federal and state refunds, including almost $15 million in federal Earned Income Tax Credit and child tax credits. (Oregon is among the poorest-performing states for tax credit redemptions, and agencies working to help more Oregonians understand and claim their rightful credits.)
In addition, 23 teachers across Oregon assisted with filing for high school students, who qualified for refunds between $80 and $1200.
Oregon State Treasury News
New Savers Can Now Get A $100 Start Toward Future Education
To help more families start saving for a better future, the Oregon College Savings Plan has quadrupled the value of two incentive programs for new participants.
Families opening a new account for their newborn or kindergartener now can receive a $100 deposit – up from the previous $25 offered via the popular Baby Grad and Kinder Grad programs.
Research shows that children with dedicated college savings are significantly more likely to pursue higher education. Recognizing this connection, the Baby Grad and Kinder Grad programs were designed to encourage early savings habits, allowing investments more time to grow tax-free.
Oregon Financial Empowerment Roundup
The Oregon Department of Justice consumer hotline is warning of a new mobile phone scam in which consumers are invited to transfer their phone numbers to different wireless carriers, only to see their number hijacked.
The nonprofit Oregon Consumer Justice has launched its third free comic book in a series focused on financial knowledge, which explores what it can be like if you’re sued by a debt collector and how to protect yourself.
The Federal Reserve has launched a new free platform with economics and personal finance resources for students, teachers and communities. The content includes lessons, infographics, and videos.
As the number of enrollees eclipsed 1 million nationwide, "AARP highlighted the growth of state-run “Work and Save” retirement plans that allow people to save – even if they lack an option through their employer. Oregon led the way with the first such plan in the nation, known as OregonSaves, which allows you to start a Roth IRA for as little as $5. Oregon AARP Director Bandana Shrestha is a member of the Financial Empowerment Advisory Team.
Portland native, NFL legend, and entrepreneur Ndamukong Suh – a national advocate for financial literacy education – has launched a new podcast called “No Free Lunch,” focusing on money, sports, business and financial journeys.
State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner highlighted LGBTQ+ financial challenges and steps to improve wellbeing during PRIDE month. Research has found 30.8% of LGBTQ+ adults reported experiencing discrimination while accessing financial services.
In its first two years, the Oregon Tribal Student Grant helped 215 recipients from Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes to earn higher education credentials at community colleges and public universities, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported. The 2025-26 application and renewal cycle is now open.
Two Oregon financial educators will receive scholarships to attend the Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy National Educator Conference in Boston, Nov. 7-9. Want to go? The application deadline is Aug. 15.
After an investigation of an Oregon firm, the Better Business Bureau of the Great West and Pacific issued a warning and a rare F-rating about misrepresenting state licensing requirements, which was occurring in order to sell “cryotherapy” equipment for horses and dogs.
Do you work in housing-related development, lending, social services, fair housing, or advocacy? Oregon Housing and Community Services is seeking input to determine priorities for federal HUD Planning and Development grants.
For the more than 500,000 Oregonians with student loans, Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation student loan ombuds can provide resources and help resolve complaints against loan servicers. For information about student loan trends, please see the new 2025 student loan ombuds annual reportstudent loan ombuds annual report.
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) offer financial learning and matching cash for asset building for Oregonians with low to moderate incomes. Neighborhood Partnerships manages the Oregon IDA Initiative on behalf of Oregon’s Department of Housing and Community Services and Department of Revenue.
The Oregon Construction Contractors Board warns consumers of red flags and typical scams, and offers a database so the public can ensure contractors, inspectors and even locksmiths are licensed in Oregon.
Based in Medford, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern Oregon helps people manage credit, avoid bankruptcy, and develop strategies to reduce debt and pay off student loans.
Find financial wellness resources in your community through Oregon’s 211info guide and hotline, a service of the Oregon Treasury and Oregon Jump$tart Coalition.
| Date |
Event |
July 28 |
Webinar: Government Imposter Scams, 9 a.m., AARP Oregon |
July 31 |
NextGen Educator FinCamp, 8:30 a.m., NextGen Personal Finance, University Place Hotel at Portland State University, Portland |
Aug. 2 |
Webinar: Fundaciones Financieras (Spanish), 9 a.m., DevNW |
Aug. 5 |
Public meeting: Financial Empowerment Advisory Team, 2 p.m., 16290 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road, Tigard |
Aug. 14 |
Class: Small Business Builder - Banking Backup, noon, Zoom, MicroEnterprise Services of Oregon |
Aug. 14 |
Class: Quick Tips for Managing Your Mortgage, 6 p.m., Virtual, NeighborImpact HomeSource |
Aug. 27 |
Webinar: Employer payroll submission for OregonSaves, 11 a.m., OregonSaves |
Sept. 10 |
Workshop: Social Security Planning, 5:30 p.m., webinar, DevNW |
Sept. 11 |
Class: Quick Tips for Managing Your Mortgage, 6 p.m., Virtual, NeighborImpact HomeSource |
Sept. 18 |
2025 Age-Friendly Oregon Summit, 8:30 a.m., Portland State University, AARP Oregon |
Sept. 18-19 |
Forum: Pathways to Financial Belonging, University of Washington, Tacoma, BankOn Washington |
Sept. 24 |
The Working Struggle (Understanding ALICE statistics), 9 a.m., United Way of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties, 505 Mullins Dr., Lebanon |
Oct. 8 |
Workshop: Home Energy Savings, 5:30 p.m., webinar, DevNW |
Oct. 9-10 |
Conference: Oregon Business Educators Association, Boulder Falls Inn Conference Center, Lebanon, Oregon |
Oct. 16 |
National Get Smart About Credit Day, American Bankers Association Foundation |
Nov. 3-6 |
Class: Youth Financial Foundations, 4 pm, Zoom, DevNW |
Nov. 19 |
Fall Education Summit, The Aerie at Eagle Landing, 10220 SE Causey Ave, Happy Valley |
Dec. 2 |
Public meeting: Financial Empowerment Advisory Team, 2 p.m., virtual meeting |
Please let us know if you have financial-focused events to list in the statewide calendar.