Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center Marks Five Years of Transforming the Financial Futures of Tulsans

Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center Marks Five Years of Transforming the Financial Futures of Tulsans

2/3/2026

The City of Tulsa's Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) is celebrating five years of providing free, professional one-on-one financial counseling to Tulsa residents. Since its launch in December 2020, the Tulsa FEC has played a pivotal role in improving house financial resilience throughout Tulsa.

Operating from two main sites and six co-locations, the Tulsa FEC is an essential public resource that has provided personalized financial guidance and support to nearly 8,000 Tulsans, regardless of their income or background, over the last five years. The Tulsa FEC has helped clients collectively reduce their personal debt by $3.3 million while growing their savings by $1.3 million, bringing families closer to their long-term goals.

"Over the past five years, the Financial Empowerment Center has proven that real and lasting change is possible when residents have access to trusted, one-on-one financial counseling," Amber Guipttons, the City's Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment and Community Wealth, said. "This milestone not only reflects the thousands of Tulsans served, but our City's commitment to building pathways to stability, opportunity, and long-term wealth for every household."

In addition to traditional financial counseling covering budgeting, credit-building, savings strategies, and debt reduction, the Tulsa FEC added legacy planning in November 2025 to provide free access to essential legal tools to protect client assets and family well-being, which includes:

• Power of Attorney documents
• Last Will & Testament creation
• Living Wills
• HIPAA authorizations

"The City of Tulsa, Goodwill and the Tulsa Area United Way were optimistic during the launch of FEC that the services offered would create meaningful impact for individuals who work, live, and play in Tulsa," Bob Stape, President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of Tulsa said. "Five years on, with the City's commitment and the support of funders, community partners like Tulsa Responds, multiple co-location sites, and dozens of referral partners, it is safe to say that the FEC's impact is nothing short of remarkable. Goodwill is pleased to play a part in ensuring the success of this program, and we look forward to continuing to support Tulsans in their journeys toward financial resilience."

Tulsa Municipal Court Integration
Since its partnership with Tulsa Municipal Court, the Tulsa FEC has helped waive more than $67,000 in Municipal Court fines and fees. Through the program, residents can request to receive financial counseling to receive $250 in fines waived after completing three sessions of financial counseling with an additional $100 waived for each subsequent session.

Learn More
Residents interested in free financial counseling or legacy planning can learn more online.