We must believe that our dreams are within our reach, which brings us to the seventh and most powerful principle, Imani or faith.

It may not be easy, but faith – especially during difficult times – brings us closer to making our dreams a reality.

Lighting the Seventh Candle

On the last day of Kwanzaa when we light the final candle, we celebrate Imani, or faith. That means honoring our best traditions as a family and community. We look within and above to strive for a higher level of spirituality and a better life for ourselves and for those around us. Imani reaffirms our self-worth and the confidence that we can triumph over struggle.

At OneUnited Bank, we have faith in all of you and in our community. We know we’ll do great things. We’re confident that our community will thrive and build the future that we deserve. Our staff and customers are a family and our community matters to us.

When we ask you to join the #BankBlack movement we are acknowledging that it’s a job that can’t be done alone and that there’s much work to be done. But we have faith in the mission and faith in our community to work toward the common goal of lifting each other up and demonstrating our collective economic power.

Why Invest in Your Future?

Saving money gives you more opportunities. It prepares you for the unexpected. Setting aside money for an unexpected emergency allows you to exhale. You’ll be grateful you have a financial cushion to lean on when you are facing challenges.

And more importantly, it helps you live your life debt-free. Nobody likes having bills looming over their head that they can’t afford to pay off. You’ll be able to pay off loans or monthly bills more quickly. Wouldn’t you like to have enough money to live comfortably without debt and have some fun?

You have to have faith that saving money today instead of giving in to an impulse purchase will help you out big time down the line. How do you figure out how much money to save? Well, it depends on your lifestyle and your needs. But getting an early start doesn’t hurt, regardless of whether you plan to retire or buy a home. That’s where opening a savings account and setting up an automatic savings plan come into play.

What To Do Once You Start Saving

Once you build savings, what should you do with the money?

Well first, don’t stop. Keep saving and investing your money wisely. If you have an account that accrues interest, you’ll put even more money in your pockets! And that’s a good feeling.

Here are some suggestions for good ways to use the money you’ve saved:

• Contribute to help others. Money is not just about our personal needs. It’s about using our resources for a purpose. When we help others who are less fortunate, we affirm our collective responsibility to our community.
• Pay off credit cards. Once you’re free of any credit card debt, you’ll be able to focus on saving even more.
• Save for retirement. Take care of your future self so you can live well after you retire.
• Give back to your community. If you have an overflow of funds, spread the wealth! Focus your spending power on seeking out Black owned businesses and entrepreneurs to support. Make an effort to keep your dollars circulating within your community longer. Be an active part of the #BuyBlack and #BankBlack Movement.

Never lose faith in yourself and our community. Be proud of who you are and the community you live in.