FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Tanisha Warner, MMI
Media Relations
713.394.3202
Tanisha.Warner@MoneyManagement.org

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans Partners with Money Management International

HOUSTON (January 2, 2009) — Houston-based Money Management International (MMI) announced today its merger with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans (CCCS of Greater New Orleans), a community-based nonprofit agency. CCCS of Greater New Orleans has provided financial counseling, financial education, debt management programs and housing counseling to Louisiana and Mississippi residence since 1965.

“This merger represents our commitment to providing our community and clients with the highest quality consumer credit counseling services and financial education,” said Tom Collens, vice president of CCCS of Greater New Orleans. “We will continue to help people regain control of their finances by offering one-on-one, in-person counseling in our six conveniently located offices, and this merger with MMI now provides consumers with 24 hour, 7 day a week counseling by telephone and Internet.”

The merger follows a growing trend in the credit counseling industry to combine agency strengths to improve and expand services. CCCS of Greater New Orleans is the eighteenth agency since 2000 to merge with MMI. Previous mergers include agencies in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Louisiana, Colorado, California, New Jersey, Maine, Oregon, Wisconsin and Southern New England.

“We are excited to welcome CCCS of Greater New Orleans to the MMI family of agencies,” said Ivan Hand, President and CEO of MMI. “The CCCS team is a valuable part of the local Louisiana and Mississippi community, and we hope to continue building on the traditions they have established.”

“MMI brings an industry-leading business platform and national education campaign that will enhance our ability to effectively and efficiently counsel and educate people about financial issues,” said Collens. “I am proud that our Board of Directors has taken such an important step to better serve the residents of our community.”

MMI is the largest full-service nonprofit credit counseling and education organization in the United States with over 100 branch offices in twenty five states. The combined organization will operate locally under the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans name and nationally under the name Money Management International. MMI will remain a member of both the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 866-889-9347 or visit www.moneymanagement.org

About Money Management International
Money Management International (MMI) is a nonprofit, full-service credit-counseling agency, providing confidential financial guidance, financial education, counseling and debt management assistance to consumers since 1958. MMI helps consumers trim their expenses, develop a spending plan and repay debts. Counseling is available by appointment in branch offices and 24/7 by telephone and Internet. Services are available in English or Spanish. To learn more, call 800-762-2271 or visit www.MoneyManagement.org.