CreditSmart® is more than a tool
It’s part of our mission.
Freddie Mac was chartered in 1970 to help keep the economy stable and expand access to housing. By creating accessible education that helps you understand credit and how to manage your money, we’re doing more than helping you achieve your financial goals. We’re helping you support the economy in your community—where you live, work and spend your money.
The work we’ve done
We worked with communities across the country—from historically black colleges and universities to Hispanic and Asian leaders and housing professionals—to create accessible education that works for real people like you, on your terms. See how our growing community partnerships have helped CreditSmart evolve.
2023
More ways to learn
Freddie Mac rolls out CreditSmart Essentials in Spanish.
2022
CreditSmart hits the road
Freddie Mac takes CreditSmart on a roadshow, presenting the suite to industry partners, nonprofit organizations, and other professional groups.
2021
Getting CreditSmart, on your terms
- In celebration of our 20th anniversary, Freddie Mac revamps CreditSmart Essentials and CreditSmart Coach learning paths
- Freddie Mac launches Homebuyer U in Spanish
2020
New name, comprehensive education
CreditSmart® Steps to Homeownership relaunched as CreditSmart® Homebuyer U.
2018
More inclusive content
Freddie Mac develops its Instructor Training webinar series in Español.
2016
Salute to our military
Freddie Mac introduces the CreditSmart Military Module.
2011
A decade of CreditSmart
- CreditSmart celebrates ten years of financial education
- Freddie Mac launches “Get the Facts on Foreclosure” YouTube video series to help consumers dispel common myths on foreclosure
- CreditSmart reaches more than 3 million consumers across 44 states
2008
Something for instructors
Freddie Mac develops its Instructor Training webinar series.
2007
New year, new content
- CreditSmart Asian officially launches
- Freddie Mac introduces a 12th module called “Preserving Homeownership: Protecting Your Home Investment”
2006
CreditSmart Asian
Freddie Mac announces the following collaborating organizations to help plan and develop CreditSmart Asian:
- Asian American for Equality (AAFE)
- Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD)
- National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
- Boat People SOS (BPSOS)
- National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA)
- National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)
- Freddie Mac and its collaborating organizations reach over 1 million consumers in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico with its CreditSmart and CreditSmart Español curriculums.
2005
Broadening our reach
- CreditSmart expands its reach to 25 states through collaborating organizations’ initiatives
- CreditSmart Español expands its reach to 13 states through collaborating organizations’ initiatives
2004
Spreading knowledge
Thirty organizations and 500 Freddie Mac designated trainers teach CreditSmart workshops to 23,000 consumers at 400 sites.
2002
CreditSmart Español
Freddie Mac creates and launches CreditSmart Español in collaboration with the following organizations:
- Cuban American National Council (CNC)
- Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
- National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP)
- National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
- National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC)
- United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI)
- U.S. Coast Guard joins Freddie Mac in its efforts to increase financial literacy through CreditSmart.
- Two new modules are introduced, Banking Services: An important Step and Becoming a Homeowner.
2001
CreditSmart is born
CreditSmart officially launches on July 26, 2001.
2000
Testing the waters
- 24,000 low- to moderate-income consumers surveyed on their credit habits and achieved 60% response rate
- CreditSmart curriculum is piloted at collaborating organization’s sites and community locations
- Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s One Thousand Churches Connected joins Freddie Mac in its efforts to increase financial literacy through CreditSmart®
- PBS’ MoneyWise joins Freddie Mac in its efforts to increase financial literacy through CreditSmart by expanding the curriculum reach to 172 PBS stations nationwide, and 129 stations in 12 countries on the Armed Forces Network
- External financial education advisory council is formed
1999
The first partners
Freddie Mac announces the following collaborating organizations to help create a financial education curriculum:
- Benedict College
- Clark Atlanta University
- Florida A&M University
- Howard University
- St. Augustine College
1998
Where it all started
Freddie Mac creates a new financial education initiative.