Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a crucial reminder of the vital role credit unions play in fostering financial inclusion and economic empowerment within Hispanic communities. Credit unions have emerged as essential partners in addressing the significant financial barriers that have historically limited Hispanic families' access to traditional banking services.

More than a quarter of Latino consumers in the U.S. have no recent credit history, making them "credit invisible" and unlikely to qualify for conventional loans. However, credit unions, with their community-focused cooperative model, are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap by offering culturally sensitive financial products and services that meet the specific needs of Hispanic members.

At AACUC, we are a diverse, inclusive organization committed to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. We invite you to join us for this important discussion on September 19.

Our esteemed panelists are:

• Darla Kolbas, Lending Director, Peninsula Credit Union
• Eddie Rivera, COO/CFO, America's Credit Unions
• Edgar Hernandez, Principal Multicultural & DEI Advisory Services, TruStage
• Nahibi Kauffman-Maldonado, Programs Director, NLCUP

Espy Poblano, Director of Programs & Training for AACUC will moderate this conversation.

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Keep reading to learn more about our panelists and moderator.

Darla Kolbas
Lending Director
Peninsula Credit Union

Darla Kolbas is a bilingual financial services professional fluent in Spanish, with over 24 years of expertise in the industry. As the Lending Director at Peninsula Credit Union, her experience spans Commercial, Mortgage, and Consumer Lending, as well as Operations Management, Banking, Retail, and Sales. Passionate about financial education and Hispanic advocacy, Darla is dedicated to empowering communities through inclusive financial solutions. She continuously seeks strategic ways to develop products and services that address the needs of underserved communities, ensuring greater financial access and opportunity.

Eddie Rivera
Chief Operation Officer and Chief Financial Officer
America's Credit Unions

Eddie Rivera has served the credit union industry for nearly 30 years and brings a deep understanding of business operations, including the importance of collaborative relationships with external partners and internal departments.  Rivera mostly served ad CFO at CUNA.

Edgar Hernandez
Principal, Multicultural & DEI Advisory Services
TruStage

Edgar leads the company’s first Multicultural & DEI Advisory Services team.  He is passionate about using innovation, behavioral science, and data analytics to improve the financial well-being of underserved communities.

Prior to this role, Edgar worked for Delve, a top-tier design and innovation firm that helps Fortune 500 firms and start-ups launch game-changing products.  He also spent 9 years at American Family Insurance, where he was recruited to join their first Client Research team, first Customer Experience team, and once again, the company’s first Innovation team.

Edgar received his bachelor’s in finance from Iowa State; his MBA in from University of Wisconsin-Madison; and a Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University. In 2023, he was named among Wisconsin’s 40 Most Influential Latino Leaders.

Nahibi Kauffman-Maldonado
Programs Director
NLCUP

As Programs Director at the National Association of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals (NLCUP), Nahibi leads the creation and implementation of impactful initiatives designed to support and elevate Latinx and ally professionals in the credit union industry. With a strong focus on leadership development and professional growth, she has spearheaded innovative programs ensuring that emerging and established leaders have the tools, networks, and opportunities they need to thrive. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education in Reading, Literacy, and Learning, Nahibi brings a unique blend of insight into human behavior and expertise in educational best practices. With a deep passion for inclusion, education, and community, she is building programs that embody empowerment, representation, and lasting impact.

Espy Poblano
Director of Programs & Training
AACUC

Esperanza Poblano Director of Program and Training at AACUC with over 10 years of experience in the financial industry. She is passionate about continued education, people development and is committed to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives industry wide. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated effective leadership skills and communication skills while working with a remote team.

Esperanza is responsible for training consultations, training development, member communication and social media content creation. She is particularly proud of her work on the AACUC DEI Leadership Academy for Financial Professionals and is passionate about inviting young professionals into the industry and working with boards and executives on succession planning.

In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her son and husband exploring the great Idaho outdoors, traveling as much as possible to learn about other cultures, and sitting down to enjoy a good book.