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Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge, Inc.: A good shepherd for information, financial literacy … and Louisiana's youth - Special Advertising Section

Founded in 1923, Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate commerce between' business and consumers by serving as an information conduit. From its early roots serving only East and West Baton Rouge parishes, Steve Uffman, CEO/President, says, "CBBR currently serves 57 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana and is the leading provider of credit reporting information in the state."

Providing national coverage (which means greater accuracy), improved decision making and reduced risk through its market partnership with Equifax, CBBR's core business is delivering current and comprehensive credit information by searching an online database of 190 million consumer credit files. CBBR also provides solutions for scoring analytics based on models such as Beacon and Pinnacle, which identify and project the full range of credit risk, predict severe delinquencies and speed decision-making. Other traditional services include mortgage reporting and collections.

Under the leadership of Uffman, CBBR has not only expanded its geographic footprint but has broadened its services beyond the traditional venues with which they are most associated. With ownership interests in Appro Systems, Inc., CBBR makes available leading edge loan origination technology to consumer and small business lenders throughout North America.

Through its partnership with ChoicePoint, CBBR offers a full range of employment and tenant, screening products and services to employers, school boards, volunteer organizations and rental property owners. Equipped to identify, retrieve, store, analyze and deliver data from more than 14 billion national, regional and local public and proprietary, records, CBBR provides instant online employee and tenant screening, comprehensive background checks and drug testing information to its members.

According to Layne McDaniel, vice president, CBBR also offers check authorization and verification services for retailers through its affiliation with Certegy. He adds, "If you're not taking checks, then you're missing out on possible sales. Our check services provide .a single source solution 101 all checks at the point of purchase and allow you to take checks risk free."

CBBR also helps shepherd the community toward healthier credit. By serving the public through proactive initiatives to raise financial literacy, CBBR provides consumers with the kinds of information and skills they will need to take control of and protect their own credit. Tailored to business and consumer needs, "CBBR Net is an easy-to-navigate website that provides consumers with answers to their frequently asked questions and offers businesses extensive, information on services and products," Uffman says. Additionally CBBR employees volunteer their time and expertise to provide educational seminars free of charge for local organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Council and LSU.

One of CBBR's most important roles today is its proactive approach to the financial literacy of young people. In fact, CBBR co-founded the Council for Personal Financial Literacy, an educational initiative that "brings together banks, educators and government officials to examine the problems that exist in our state and elsewhere," Uffman says. The Louisiana Jump$tart coalition, which is affiliated with the national program and chaired locally, by Ken Uffman, CBBR's chairman and CEO emeritus, was formed by the council as part of its effort to strengthen financial literacy in the state.

While Louisiana is one of the first states in the nation to recognize the need for financial literacy and has a free enterprise school program in place, the results of a 2002 national survey conducted by the Jump$tart Coalition show that Louisiana students scored only 47.3 percent on questions related to basic financial topics. "Integrating personal finance education into the free enterprise classroom curriculum is a bold move to help Louisiana's youth prepare for the demands of the working world," Ken Uffman says. "Research demonstrates that without these skills, our youth face an uphill battle to excel in life both socially and financially."

Providing the initiative for this effort in Louisiana, CBBR and the Council for Personal Financial Literacy have worked together with government and education officials to introduce new state legislation that will redress this trend of growing financial illiteracy. Authored by Sen Paulette Irons, SB 38 would mandate personal finance to be included in the state's free enterprise curriculum beginning with the 2004 2005 school year.

In a decade that President George Bush has designated to education, CBBR is leading the way through corporate-community partnerships that promote financial literacy to ensure that no child is left behind in Louisiana.