Student-Run Credit Union Program
So what exactly is a student-run credit union?
Well it's exactly how it sounds — a credit union run by students! It functions similarly to our other credit union branches, however, they focus more on deposits, the occasional car payment and the rare withdrawal. They are designed to serve students, teachers, and staff at participating schools. Pretty cool, huh?
TRUE Community Credit Union offers student-run credit union branches at many area schools, providing a unique, interactive way for students to learn about saving money and making good financial choices. To participate, students need to have a savings account with TRUE Community Credit Union. See our Youth Savings Account.
Students with a Jackson $aves account can also use our student branches.
Check us out on Facebook!
{beginAccordion}
History of Our Program
It's amazing to look back and see that a program started in 1991 continues to thrive today. And all it took was a spark to get this fire going and it spread like wildfire.
In 1991, CP Federal Credit Union was approached by the Western School District to participate in a grant funded program that provided financial literacy to their students. This partnership launched a unique and robust student-run credit union program that provided students with real world work experience along with developing a savings habit.
We are pleased to offer Student run Credit Union branches in multiple schools. In 2021, we celebrated 30 years of providing financial literacy to area youth. That's pretty cool.
Student Volunteers
The student-run branches are operated by student volunteers who have completed an application, an interview, and the necessary training to run their school branch. Each branch has an Education Coordinator from TRUE Community on site to assist and oversee the operation.
Once the student volunteers have been selected and have been trained, we will open the student branch. This typically occurs in October or November. For our partner in education schools, K-2, we work with the administration to determine the best way to provide credit union to their students.
Our student volunteers learn important skills while working in their student credit union. Some of these skills include cash handling, member service, cooperation, organization, and even public speaking. The development of these life skills may help your child excel in their current academics while preparing them for their future career.
During the fall of each school year, our Education Coordinators present information regarding the student volunteer positions and provide applications in the grade level classrooms determined by the school.
Deposits
Students can save a little as a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter each week at their Student Run Credit Union. (For the protection of our students, we encourage students with very large deposits to visit any one of TRUE Community Credit Union branch locations).
For each deposit made at their student run credit union branch, students will receive a punch on their punch card. On their fourth deposit, they can select a prize from our prize box. Student that forget their neck wallet and punch card are asked to hold onto their receipt and show it during their next visit to earn that missing punch.
Withdrawal Policy
In order to protect our elementary students, we ask that they bring a permission note for withdrawals larger than $5.00. The joint owner on the account should be the parent who grants permission to make the withdrawal by signing the note.
Students may choose to withdraw $5.00 or less without a note for book fairs, popcorn days, etc. If a student's account is dormant and wants to make a withdrawal from their account, we will require a note.
Our Financial Education Representatives do not bring cash to school since many of our students typically make deposits. The availability of funds will be based on the amount of deposits made that day. If your child needs to make a larger withdrawal, we encourage you to visit any of our branch locations.
Dormant Accounts
Accounts that haven't been used for one year will become dormant*, after three years of dormancy you will incur fees
*To keep your account active simply perform a transaction by making a deposit or a withdrawal each year.
Please make sure we have your most recent contact information for each of your accounts so we can notify you of any account updates or changes. If an account becomes dormant and remains dormant for three years, we are required to turn over the account to the state of Michigan. It remains your account and you will need to contact the state to obtain any remaining funds.
Student Run Credit Union Branch Locations
We currently operate multiple student credit union branches. Each branch operates two times a month unless the school has a snow day, testing or another event. Below is a list of our student run branch locations.
Participating Schools
|
{endAccordion}