During our interview with an Arvest home lender on Friday, Taylor, David and I heard about Credit Counseling of Arkansas, a nonprofit in the area that offers educational financial classes. Arvest recommends the classes to first-time home buyers. Below is some background on CCOA.
Also noteworthy: They have counselors who service the Hispanic and Marshallese community. 

About Credit Counseling of Arkansas
Credit Counseling of Arkansas, a non-profit organization with locations in Fayetteville, Bentonville and Fort Smith, offers financial counseling and educational classes to community members, the director of operations said.
Founded in 1995, the organization provides various types of counseling for issues including student loans, reverse mortgages and bankruptcy, said Bill Robertson, the director of operations. The organization also offers classes to teach people about budgeting and saving money, the importance of good credit and debt management.
The organization provides two courses specific to credit, including the “Credit Score Secrets” course, which offers tips on how to improve credit scores, and the “Master Your Credit” course, which teaches the basics of credit reports and scores, according to the CCOA website.
Additionally, CCOA offers classes to local organizations who request them. The nonprofit will host a “Credit Score Secrets” course from 5-6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Fayetteville Public Library.
“We’re not actually there to help people repair their credit,” Robertson said. “We can go over their credit report with them, and pull that for them and give them things to improve that.”
CCOA also offers a series of educational programs related to housing purchases. The organization offers pre-purchase counseling, which includes a one-on-one meeting with a counselor who discusses with potential homeowners the process and requirements for purchasing a home.
Free home-buying classes, which are taught by a home lender and realtor, are also offered once a month at various locations. The next course will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at United Bank in Springdale.
The course covers the home buying process from beginning to end, including how to work with realtors, meet with lenders, get insurance and finish the closing on a home, Robertson said.
The in-person course is only offered in English, but CCOA offers a paid online-substitute course in both English in Spanish. Counseling services are offered in English, Spanish and Marshallese, Robinson said.