Cambridge Credit Counseling

What Cambridge Credit Counseling does

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit financial counseling agency founded in 1996 and headquartered in Agawam, Massachusetts, with additional branch offices in Wichita, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri. The organization provides consumer credit counseling, debt management plans (DMPs), debt consolidation, HUD-approved housing counseling, foreclosure intervention, reverse mortgage (HECM) counseling, student loan counseling, and U.S. Department of Justice-approved pre-filing bankruptcy counseling and post-filing debtor education courses. Services are delivered via toll-free phone lines, online inquiry forms, in-person sessions, and three dedicated digital platforms: a credit counseling client portal (mycambridgeaccount.org), a bankruptcy client portal (startfreshtoday.com), and a financial education portal (MyMoney Budgeting Portal).

The business operates as a regulated nonprofit with multiple federal and state approvals: HUD for housing counseling, EOUST for bankruptcy courses, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs for reverse mortgage counseling. It holds ISO 9001 quality certification continuously since 2001, is accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), and the Better Business Bureau, and is licensed or exempt in over 35 states. Revenue is generated primarily from state-capped DMP fees (initial fees up to $100 / monthly fees up to $75, with average fees of $40 and $30 respectively), per-course bankruptcy counseling fees ($25 each), creditor grants for counseling services, and federal/state/private foundation grants that fund free HUD housing counseling. Credit counseling intake and budget analysis sessions are provided free of charge to consumers.

The company's core technology stack is non-AI and primarily operational: client portals, payment processing (including an ACH department), content publishing, and CRM-style account management for DMP clients. The organization employs 11-50 staff, with counselors averaging 14+ years of tenure and 42% of all staff having been with Cambridge for over 20 years, reflecting significant institutional knowledge. Day-to-day operations are led by President & CEO Christopher Viale, who also serves as Co-Chairman of the FCAA Board of Directors, supported by a CFO (Thomas Hebert) and a network of division directors covering credit counseling, housing, bankruptcy, DMP operations, business development, education/compliance, customer care, and the Heartland branches. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors chaired by Alfred H. Colonna, Jr.

Name

Cambridge Credit Counseling

Legal name

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.

Website

https://cambridge-credit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cambridge Credit Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 that provides consumer credit counseling, debt management plans, HUD-approved housing counseling, and DOJ-approved bankruptcy courses to individuals nationwide across 35+ states. Revenue comes from regulated DMP fees, bankruptcy course fees, and federal/state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Credit Counseling and Debt Management Services

NAICS

Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (522390)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Credit Counseling & Budgeting (FSAEAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Credit Counseling & Debt Management Plans (DMP) (FSAKAJAH), Bankruptcy Counseling & Pre-Filing Education (FSAEAFAG), Mortgage Delinquency & Foreclosure Prevention Counseling (FSAEAFAF), Student Loan Advisory & Repayment Assistance (FSAEAFAE)

Keywords

• Credit counseling services
• Debt management plans
• Housing counseling
• Bankruptcy counseling courses
• Financial education

Headquarters

HQ city

Agawam

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Debt Management Plan Fees: Client fees for debt management plans. Initial fees are capped at $100, monthly fees capped at $75. Average initial fee is approximately $40, average monthly fee is $30. Fees are based on state rules and regulations.
2. Bankruptcy Counseling Course Fees: Pre-filing credit counseling briefing costs $25, and pre-discharge debtor education course also costs $25. No additional charge for couples taking courses together.
3. Creditor Grants and Funding: Receives funding/grants from some creditors for counseling and education services provided. This supports their nonprofit operations.
4. HUD Housing Counseling Services: HUD-approved housing counseling services provided free to consumers. Agency receives federal, state, and private foundation grants to fund these free services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cambridge Credit Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency that provides free credit counseling, Debt Management Plans, debt consolidation, HUD-approved housing counseling (including foreclosure intervention, reverse mortgage/HECM counseling, first-time homebuyer education, and rental counseling), Department of Justice EOUST-approved bankruptcy pre-filing and pre-discharge courses, and student loan repayment counseling, primarily to individuals with unsecured debt across more than 35 U.S. states. Services are delivered through certified counselors via toll-free phone, online portals (mycambridgeaccount.org, startfreshtoday.com, mymoney.cambridge-credit.org), and in-person branch offices in Agawam (MA), Wichita (KS), and Springfield (MO).

Product overview

Cambridge Credit Counseling offers a comprehensive suite of nonprofit financial counseling and debt relief services. The core offerings include free credit counseling, debt management plans (DMP), and debt consolidation services. The company operates as a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1996, providing services nationally through HUD-approved housing counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, student loan counseling, and bankruptcy counseling divisions. Supporting services include the MyMoney Budgeting Portal for financial education and online client portals for account management. The company maintains ISO 9001 quality certification and employs nationally certified counselors with average tenure exceeding 14 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Credit Counseling Free consumer credit counseling service providing in-depth analysis of personal financial situations by nationally certified debt experts to identify ways to save money and get out of debt. Intended for individual consumers with unsecured debt challenges.
• Debt Management Plans A recurring debt management program where clients make one monthly payment to Cambridge and Cambridge pays creditors on their behalf, with benefits including reduced interest rates (typical reduction from 29% to 8% and as low as 0%) and lower monthly payments. State-regulated pricing: initial fee capped at $100, monthly fee capped at $75; averages are ~$40 initial and ~$30 monthly.
• Debt Consolidation Service that consolidates a client's unsecured debts into a single monthly payment, with Cambridge then distributing funds to participating creditors on the client's behalf.
• Housing Counseling HUD-approved housing counseling services covering foreclosure prevention, rental counseling, first-time homebuyer education, and Mortgage Ready programs. Provided free to consumers and funded via federal, state, and private foundation grants.
• Foreclosure Intervention Free HUD-approved foreclosure prevention counseling that helps homeowners explore loan modifications, short sales, deed-in-lieu options, and other alternatives to foreclosure.
• Reverse Mortgage Counseling HUD-approved HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) counseling for seniors aged 62 and older to help them understand reverse mortgage products and make informed decisions.
• 1st Time Homebuyer Courses HUD-certified housing-counselor-led education courses for first-time homebuyers covering the home-buying process.
• Rental Counseling Housing counseling services for renters covering lease agreements, tenant rights, and rental affordability.
• Student Loan Counseling Counseling service that reviews borrowers' overall financial profile and federal student loans to identify affordable repayment solutions and consolidation or forgiveness alternatives.
• Bankruptcy Counseling U.S. Justice Department EOUST-approved pre-filing credit counseling briefing and pre-discharge debtor education course required for bankruptcy filings. Each course costs $25 per person (no additional charge for couples), and is available online, by phone, or in person.
• Financial Education Articles and Videos Free financial literacy content (articles and videos) covering budgeting, credit, debt management, housing, retirement, insurance, kids & money, and more — including the 'Personal Finance 120' YouTube video series.
• Financial Education Tools and Worksheets Free downloadable financial education resources including the 'Learn Now or Pay Later' workbook, children's financial education guide, young adult guide, budgeting worksheets, goal-setting worksheets, the MyMoney newsletter, and the client membership guide.
• MyMoney Budgeting Portal Online budgeting portal providing a financial education dashboard, interactive lessons, budget tracking tools, and debt evaluation resources for clients.
• Credit Counseling Customer Portal Online portal for credit counseling clients offering 24/7 access to account information, payment disbursements, printable reports, and creditor details management.
• Bankruptcy Client Login Portal Online portal for bankruptcy counseling clients to access courses, certificates, and account management.
• Customer Support Client services division handling account inquiries, payment processing, account reconciliation, and client communications via phone and email.

Quantifiable outcome

• Interest rates reduced from average 29% to 8% (as low as 0%)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge counselors are certified through NFCC. As members, Cambridge must meet rigorous standards for counselor training, ethics, and service quality. Counselors must achieve NFCC certification within 6 months of hire and maintain continuing education every two years.
• Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge is a member of FCAA and accredited to their Code of Practice, which sets rules for ethics, counselor training, fiscal integrity, and other industry-specific benchmarks. Some Cambridge management team members hold leadership positions in FCAA.
• NeighborWorks AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge counselors obtain NCHEC (NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education) certifications including Housing Counselor, Foreclosure Counselor, and Pre-Purchase Counselor certifications through NeighborWorks training programs.
• Partnership for Financial Education (PFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge certifies many staff members through PFE in addition to NFCC, ensuring consumers receive professional guidance through dual certification programs.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge is HUD-approved to provide housing-related counseling services throughout the country. HUD approval requires meeting strict standards for housing counselors and services including foreclosure intervention, rental counseling, and first-time homebuyer education.
• U.S. Department of Justice (EOUST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge is approved by the Executive Office of United States Trustees to administer pre-filing credit counseling and post-filing debtor education courses required for bankruptcy proceedings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GreenPath Financial Wellness: National 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency offering DMPs, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and bankruptcy counseling across all 50 states. Operates the same HUD-approved, NFCC/FCAA-affiliated model as Cambridge, making it the closest direct comparable in scale and service mix.
• Money Management International (MMI): One of the largest US nonprofit credit counseling agencies, providing DMPs, housing counseling, bankruptcy education, and student loan counseling nationwide. Comparable HUD/EOUST approvals and credentialed counselor workforce make it a direct competitor for Cambridge's target segments.
• Money Fit by DRS (formerly Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions): Nonprofit HUD-approved credit counseling and housing counseling agency with similar DMP, bankruptcy pre-filing, and financial education offerings. Competes head-to-head with Cambridge in the regulated consumer debt counseling category.
• InCharge Debt Solutions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering credit counseling, DMPs, housing counseling, and student loan counseling with HUD approval and NFCC/FCAA memberships. Operates a similar multi-channel counseling and education model to Cambridge.
• American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC): Nonprofit credit counseling agency providing DMPs, housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and financial education. Comparable accredited counselor workforce and nationwide service footprint.
• Consolidated Credit: National nonprofit credit counseling agency with HUD-approved housing counseling and DMP services, focusing on debt consolidation and financial education. Directly competes with Cambridge's DMP and housing counseling divisions.
• Take Charge America: Nonprofit credit counseling agency providing DMPs, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and bankruptcy education. Comparable service breadth and target consumer segments as Cambridge.
• Apprisen (now part of GreenPath): Nonprofit financial counseling agency historically operating across multiple US states with credit counseling, housing counseling, and DMP offerings. Provides another direct comparable for Cambridge's regulated counseling model.
• Novadebt: Nonprofit credit counseling agency offering DMPs, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and financial education. Targets a similar consumer demographic to Cambridge with comparable HUD and EOUST approvals.
• Navicore Solutions: Nonprofit credit counseling and housing counseling agency providing DMPs, foreclosure prevention counseling, reverse mortgage HECM counseling, and financial education. Operates in the same HUD-approved, NFCC-affiliated nonprofit segment as Cambridge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CambridgeCredit
• Xx.com/cambridgecredit

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Credit Counseling