Skip to main content

Forward Memphis, a Trusted, Affordable, and Sustainable Alternative to Payday Lending

Forward Memphis

($1000 loan at 10% Interest)

You Pay
$1,100

Payday Lenders

($1000 loan at 459%* Interest)

You Pay $4,590

*Source:  Hub.Nashville.Gov

What Is The Problem?

Predatory Loans

Memphis, Tennessee is the payday lending capital of the world with more than 100 stores located in predominantly black and latino communities.  Predatory lenders can charge annual percentage rates as high as 459% which means you may pay back almost 5 times the amount you originally borrowed.

Learn More

What Is The Solution?

Forward Memphis

Forward Memphis provides trusted hands-on coaching, sustainable solutions and access to grants and affordable loans with no credit checks.  We offer a way out of the vicious payday loan cycle.

Learn More

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1: Apply

  • Complete our online application

Step 2: Assess

  • Meet with our coach

Step 3: Advise

  • Coach presents a sustainable solution 
  • Applicant completes recommended steps

Step 4: Access

  • Applicant receives financial assistance up to $5,000

STAY CONNECTED!

Stay up-to-date with Forward Memphis by signing up for our newsletter!

OUR PARTNERS

Forward Memphis is a collaboration of financial institutions, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and corporations focused on ending generational cycles of payday lenders.

Partner With Us

OUR TEAM

Every team member is dedicated to helping Memphians reach financial success.

Chief Executive Officer

Travis Moody

Travis Moody is the founder and leader for Forward Memphis, a non-profit organization
focused on interrupting generational cycles of predatory lending. He transitions from
serving as a pastor at The Life Church of Memphis where he has served the last 11 years.
He is the author of Focus on the Giver, Not the Gift: Ten Strategies for Building a
Generous Church Culture, Financial Breakthrough: God’s Plan for Getting out of Debt,
and Winning: The Guide to a Life of Peace and Purpose.

Travis Moody is a native Memphian and a proud graduate of Memphis Hamilton High
School. He attended Georgia Tech on a football scholarship and graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. He also received an MBA from
Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Travis spent over 17 years as a manager and executive with three Fortune 500
companies (Procter and Gamble, Weyerhaeuser, and Target) in South Carolina,
Washington, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

He has been married to his amazing wife, Carol, for over thirty-one years. They
have four adult children and live in Cordova, Tennessee.

For more information, visit travismoody.com.

Operations Director

T.K. Jones

Miss T.K. Jones is a dedicated professional who genuinely cares about people. She is
originally from Illinois and a graduate of Northern Illinois University where she obtained
a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

After spending over 25 years in the financial services industry working for several
Fortune 500 companies, T.K. retired from a successful career at Securian Financial
Group to pursue her ministry calling by joining the staff of The Life Church. At The Life
Church, she provided leadership to volunteer engagement at the Germantown Parkway
location and led a team of money coaches who helped people pay off debt, buy new
homes and start successful businesses.

T.K. transitions from The Life Church to serve as Operations Director for Forward
Memphis. Her mission is to encourage people to achieve their financial dreams and
build multi-generational wealth that brings multi-generational blessings.

T.K. has resided in Cordova, TN for the past 18 years. When she’s not making the
world a better place, T.K. enjoys reading non-fiction books, listening to podcasts,
hanging with family & friends and spending time with her fur baby, a cat named Tiggs.

Bilingual Money Coach

Sonia Leetom

Sonia is passionate about helping people with their finances and has previously worked as a financial coach at The Life Church. She is excited to continue serving as a financial coach with Forward Memphis and is fluent in Spanish due to her Dominican ethnicity. With a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Sonia enjoys fashion, architecture, reading, and horseback riding. She has also worked in the apparel industry for over 14 years, traveling extensively and learning about other cultures. Sonia homeschools her children and will teach Spanish and Science at a local tutorial. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts and audiobooks, completing home projects, and serving at church.
Administrative Assistant

Christyn Smith

Christyn, her husband Aaron and four children enjoy living in the Memphis, TN area and are active in their church and community. Christyn excels in working behind the scenes to make day to day operations smooth and efficient at Forward Memphis.

Interested in joining the team? Check out the listing of our current openings and send us your resume.

Join The Team

Special Thanks To Our Partners

CONTACT US

For media inquiries please contact:
Courtney Mickens-Jefferson, KQ Communications
courtney@kqcommunications.com