Webster Five announced recently that it has established an exclusive relationship with the YWCA Central Massachusetts to provide financial seminars for domestic violence survivors the YWCA serves as part of its comprehensive domestic violence program.

The $15,000 grant from Webster Five will provide the necessary funding to serve one hundred twenty-five people per year over three years. The seminars will be delivered in person, remotely, one-on-one, and in small groups as well as sessions conducted in Spanish. Participants will sign up for five-week sessions, which will include a one-hour seminar each week.

“We are very excited to partner with Webster Five to provide this critical financial information for the people we serve,” Tara Huard, manager, community-based intervention services, YWCA, said. “Understanding how to manage and budget money is an important step in helping survivors reach financial freedom and stay safe after leaving an abusive relationship. We are grateful to the Webster Five facilitators, who will participate in a training themselves to recognize the signs of domestic violence, for sharing their knowledge.

“It is important for everyone to build their financial confidence by learning more about money management, and this is especially important for domestic violence survivors who often are denied access to finances b their abuser,” Donald Doyle, president and CEO of Webster Five, said. “We are proud to support this important initiative and hope it will make a difference in the lives of everyone who participates in the seminars.”

The seminars will include such topics as saving, budgeting, protecting financial information, building and repairing credit, and first-time home buying programs.

In other news involving Webster Five, the bank was recognized recently as a 2022 winner of a BBB of Central New England Award for Marketplace Excellence.

The award celebrates businesses in Central Massachusetts and Northeast Connecticut that epitomize corporate responsibility and always do what’s right by the customers. Honorees convey to the community of businesses that upholding the ethical standards of the BBB is the hallmark of a successful business. Other winners for 2022 included Harbro Auto Sales and service and the Worcester Railers Hockey Club.