Community Federal Opens First Credit Union for Middle School Students in Plymouth-Canton Schools

Plymouth, MI (Apr. 30, 2002) – Community Federal Credit Union recently opened its first student credit union for middle schoolers at East Middle School in the Plymouth-Canton School District. A grand opening ceremony was held at the student-run credit union during the April 14-20 celebration of National Credit Union Youth Week.

Eleven 7^th grade students from East Middle School’s Life Management class are employees of the school credit union.

Danielle Wren, Life Management teacher and program coordinator, says, "The credit union has brought reality to my students. Our curriculum covers employability, money management and personal finance—all topics that directly relate to the credit union operation."

Community Federal started its student credit union program for elementary schools in 1990 through a business partnership with the Northville School District.

Natalie McLaughlin, Community Federal’s business partnership coordinator, explains, "We are excited to extend our program from the elementary level to middle school as a way to continue to support our members with their financial education." She notes that in addition to East Middle School, Community Federal’s program now includes eight elementary schools with 180 student employees and nearly 800 savings accounts.

The partnership objectives encourage the practical use of math skills, developing career awareness and employability skills along with increasing students’ knowledge of transactions and the uses of technology within the financial services industry.

During the past several years Community Federal has received several awards for its education partnerships and community involvement.

With more than 34,000 members and total assets exceeding $254 million, Community Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan. Its membership is open to anyone who lives or works in the communities of Plymouth, Canton, Northville and Novi, and in Otsego and Montmorency counties.

For more information, visit the credit union web site at www.cfcu.org or call

(734) 453-1200 or (877) 937-2328, toll free.

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Photo caption: Operating Community Federal’s East Middle School student credit union are (from left to right) Lisa Wieczorek, Madeline Walters, parent helper Jill Quinlan and Chelsea Quinlan helping student members Kyle Broderick and Tony McLaughlin make deposits.

 Media contacts:

Sarah Cousineau
Community Federal Credit Union
734-453-1200, ext. 468

Margaret Knes
Margaux & Associates, LLC
313-336-8774

scousineau@cfcu.org mknes@margauxpr.com