Nonprofit expands car-loan effort into S.W. Washington

The Portland-based nonprofit Metropolitan Family Service is expanding a car-loan program into Southwest Washington. The program provides low-interest auto loans to working parents who have poor credit or no credit history but who need a car to get to work and to get their children to day care. To highlight the program’s launch in Southwest Washington, the agency will have an open house from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, at the former First Independent Bank, now Sterling Bank, 3301 Fourth Plain Blvd. in Vancouver.