SER National and Chrysler Financial Launch 'SER Progreso' to Bridge Financial and Technology Divides for Latino Families in Four States

To: LIFESTYLES EDITORS

Contact: Rolando Rodriguez of SER National, +1-703-371-1489,rolando@raizpr.com; or Amber Gowen of Chrysler Financial, +1-248-427-3126, arp11@dcx.com

IRVING, Texas, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- A financial educationpartnership between SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc. (SERNational), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, and ChryslerFinancial, a business unit of DaimlerChrysler Financial ServicesAmericas) aims to make the financial dreams of Latino families aroundthe country a reality.

Beginning April 23 of this year, "SER Progreso" will kick-off withthe launch of a "Financial Literacy E-Center" hosted by SER National.The web site will be friendly to users of all ages and featurecontent, developed by Chrysler Financial, in both English andSpanish.

Later in the month, the first of 10 informational luncheons andfive job fairs will be staged with later events to be hosted at sitesaround the country. The luncheons and job fairs will includeworkshops allowing participants the opportunity to learn the basicsof using both Internet and computer technology, including SER's E-Center, as tools for managing personal finances and gaining newfinancial literacy knowledge. Representatives from Chrysler Financialwill also be on-site during the events to provide professionalknowledge and an overview of the kinds of financial services theirorganization offers.

"As a company, Chrysler Financial is well aware of the financialdisparities within the Hispanic community, but we also know Latinoshave a drive to obtain new knowledge that will help them do more fortheir families and create opportunities for future generations," saidWilliam F. Jones Jr., Vice President - Chrysler Financial. "Our goalis to provide a program that is valuable to the Hispanic communityand a haven of resources that can truly impact lives. 'SER Progreso'has that potential."

According to the FDIC, half of the 40 million Latinos in theUnited States are unbanked. Furthermore, in a 2004 study involving 2million people, the Texas Department of Insurance said Hispanics hadcredit scores 5 percent to 25 percent worse than whites. To combatcredit and finance-related issues Chrysler Financial and SER Nationalare teaming up to present a financial literacy program that pairstechnology, job fairs and informational "luncheons" with a dual-language approach calculated to ensure the world of personal financeis explained in a language every member of the family can understand.

According to Daniel Gomez, Chief Policy Analyst for SER National -Washington, D.C., "SER is in a landmark position to leverage aninnovative financial literacy curriculum provided by ChryslerFinancial to bridge gaps in the Hispanic community that disconnectmany Latinos from sound financial management and technology use for abetter quality of life. Our hats go off to Chrysler Financial forhelping SER National to ensure language and unfamiliarity withtechnology are no longer barriers to financial success."

For information about SER National, its affiliates or thispartnership with Chrysler Financial visit: http://www.ser-national.org/.

About Chrysler Financial

Chrysler Financial offers a complete line of world-classautomotive financial products and services for both dealers andconsumers of Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles. In addition tooffering vehicle wholesale and retail financing to more than 2,400Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers, Chrysler Financial also providesfleet management and lines of credit to dealers. As an industryleader in automotive financing, Chrysler Financial provides itscustomers with the most innovative and efficient methods of doingbusiness. For more information on Chrysler Financial visit http://www.chryslerfinancial.com.

SOURCE Chrysler Financial