SALISBURY — Opening its fourth branch statewide, Operation Hope plans to help local residents create financial stability.

Operation Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides financial literacy and economic education, opened Thursday at Capital Bank on Faith Road. Salisbury native Bryan Jordan, the CEO of Capital Bank’s parent company, First Horizon, is leading the partnership.

“(It’s) the opportunity to serve people who need financial counseling, financial help, credit repair, basically private banking services or those who might not otherwise get,” Jordan said. “Operation Hope can do things that we can’t do.”

 “It’s a great opportunity for us to essentially strengthen the economic fabric of the community, and I’m really proud that we have the opportunity to do it here in Salisbury,” he added.

Operation Hope is a free resource and doesn’t require a bank account.

“Credit problems and financial problems impact somebody that all of us know,” Jordan said. “We may not know who that is. This is a free resource.”

Jordan spoke about when he first heard about Operation Hope from founder and CEO John Hope Bryant. Bryant told him that Jordan’s employees were going to a SunTrust bank to use the services of the first Operation Hope in Memphis.

“He said, ‘You know you have people working for you that are going into the SunTrust branch for financial counseling’” Jordan said. “He said this is not a demographic. He said anybody can lose their job, anybody can suffer from death or disability, spouse of otherwise. Financial problems are not demographically contained.”

“Whether you’re white, black, red, brown or yellow, you want to see some more green,” he said.

Bryant told the audience that a low credit score can affect one’s chance to get a job, buy a house or a car, or get a loan to start a business. Those endeavors can require a credit score of 620.

“If your credit score was 580 and you move it to 620, what happens to your self-esteem?” Bryant asked. “Goes up. Your confidence? Your belief in banking? Your faith in the system?”

Jordan said low credit scores affect the small business community greatly.

“The most important thing that people miss is most jobs are created by small businesses,” he said. “Small businesses are largely formed on personal credit. You could have the best idea in the world for something, and if you can’t get funding for it, it’s hard to do. We try to build the foundation all across the spectrum where people can learn and manage their budget, manage their finances.”

Elaine Spalding, president of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, also spoke at Thursday’s gathering.

“We are so excited about Operation Hope,” Spalding said. “This will really provide wonderful new benefits and resources to all of our citizens, and we really appreciate you locating it here.”

Jordan said he is proud to work for an organization that improves the community.

“I have the great fortune to work for an organization that truly believes that communities that do well make all of us better,” he said. “Including our organization, our business doesn’t do well if our community doesn’t do well.”

Capital Bank also presented Kyna Grubb of Rowan Helping Ministry’s Food for Thought with a $5,000 check.

To learn more about Operation Hope or use its services, visit Alisha Hunt at Capital Bank, 225 Faith Road, or visit operationhope.com.

A fifth Operation Hope will open Aug. 10 in Winston-Salem.