America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU), a faith-based banking institution headquartered in Southern California, recently conducted financial literacy training for students in San Gabriel Valley. In keeping with its corporate priorities of building stronger communities and futures, ACCU taught foundational economic principles at Foothill Christian School, Azusa Pacific University, and Citrus College.
Over 50 students, ranging from fourth graders to college seniors, attended the workshops during October and November. Members of ACCU’s staff presented a total of eleven sessions, covering topics such as saving, balancing a checkbook, building a good credit score, setting financial goals, budgeting, and giving back.
The series kicked off on October 2, with a three-week workshop at Azusa Pacific University. Presenter Jessica Jenkins, an MBA student at APU, serves a teller at ACCU’s main branch, located at 2100 E. Route 66, Glendora. The training was hosted by APU’s TRiO Student Support Services, a federally funded program that provides support to first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and those with disabilities.
“We had a total of 25 very engaged participants,” says Jessica. “They came up with creative slogans for the Money Mantras activity, and what they shared in the Dream Big session was heartwarming.” While some naturally wanted to clear their student loans, many dreamed of contributing to charitable causes, from paying off their parents’ house, to taking their mom on a vacation, to starting a community garden.
Next, ACCU’s community engagement coordinator, Nikole Pearce, launched a pioneering program for 4th to 8th graders at Foothill Christian School. When the five-week workshop ended, a student’s mother sent Nikole a grateful email saying, “Thank you so much for putting on this program for FCS. Owen (and our family!) have really benefited from the principles he learned over the last several weeks!”
The final workshop in this series, a three-week session at Citrus College, was presented by Rachel Solorza, an accounting staff with five years of service at ACCU. “The student engagement was a key indicator that they were benefiting from what they were learning,” says Rachel, who enjoys helping young people become financially literate.
“The workshops helped me learn a lot about credit scores,” says Maya, a second-year student at Citrus who wants to be a psychologist. Eye-opening for Ava, a communications major, were the different ways to budget, especially how to spend less and save more.
Fun incentives like a weekly raffle were sprinkled throughout each workshop. When asked what they would do with the prize money, many winners said they would use it to open a savings account.
To learn about ACCU's personal accounts, please click here. If you would like ACCU to conduct financial literacy training at your institution, please contact Nikole Pearce at npearce@americasccu.com.
Jessica and Jade with students at Azusa Pacific University.
Rachel sits with students at Citrus College.
Nikole with 4th-8th graders at Foothill Christian School.