JORDAN — Jordan-Elbridge Central School District and SECNY Federal Credit Union recently anounced the opening of a student-run credit union branch located at the Jordan-Elbridge high school. A grand opening celebration was held Oct. 19 in the high school cafeteria.

The Eagle Branch will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch periods when school is in session.

It will be used to assist students with real-life financial education, personal finance activities, and employability skills.

The program came to fruition through close collaborative work with teacher Meghan Voit and Jordan-Elbridge High School Principal Mark Schermerhorn.

The experience will include a traditional teller line with the ability to complete basic transactions as well as account opening and online/mobile service offerings.

Students and staff within the school may become SECNY members, make deposits, and access free e-Services.

A select group of students will perform various credit union job functions as member service representatives, with opportunity for growth as the year progresses.

The branch will be overseen collaboratively by SECNY and Jordan-Elbridge staff.

During this process, students completed interviews, orientation activities, and training sessions.

They learned about financial products and services, security and confidentiality processes, and obtained a full-scope look at the inner workings of a financial institution.

The addition of the Eagle Branch marks the third student-run credit union branch SECNY has opened in the last three years.

“The student branch programs are incredibly beneficial not only for students and school staff but also for their families and our communities,” Courtney Fulmer, CEO at SECNY Federal Credit Union said. “They foster real-world financial responsibility combined with learned job skills and the sense of teamwork necessary for future success.”