ACCION Texas is the largest microlender in the United States. With an active loan portfolio of $6 million, the nonprofit is reaching small businesses throughout the 262,000 square miles of Texas. In 2001, ACCION introduced the Out-of-Area Network to help connect with small businesses throughout...

Government actions, combined with oversight and standardization from industry organizations, benefit consumers by enabling them to more easily identify agencies that work in their best interest and are certified to provide them with quality financial education.

Consumers can go online to get advice about choosing the right agency.

In the wake of the Great Recession, more Americans are turning their focus to personal financial recovery. Whether they are recovering from a setback such as unemployment or reduced income, increasing their rainy-day funds, shoring up retirement savings, reducing high-cost debt balances, or all...