What is the Youth/Junior Banking Program?
HISTORY
Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) is working to help students gain financial knowledge, now and for the future, through its Youth and Junior Banking Programs. Both programs give students the opportunity to operate in-school branches of the credit union and serve TVFCU members.
Youth Banking Program
The Youth Banking Program allows any TVFCU member to access their account directly at the school for deposits, withdrawals, TVFCU MasterCard payments, TVFCU loan payments, cashing checks and purchasing stamps. Students at these branches work as tellers and perform all transactions with the supervision of TVFCU’s Youth/Junior Banking Coordinator, Kimberly A. Bates.
The following forms/applications are also available:
- Membership Enrollment
- Payroll Distribution
- TVFCU MasterCard
- TVFCU Debit MasterCard/Overdraft Line of Credit
- Loan
- Cross-account authorization
- PIN request
- Checkbook registers
- Coin wrappers
- Various TVFCU product brochures
TVFCU’s first in-school branch opened in 1998 at Batavia High School, as part of a school-to-work program. Students now receive class credit in the Entrepreneurship class by working for the branch.
In 2005, TVFCU continued its partnership with the Batavia City School District, by opening a branch at Batavia Middle School. At this branch, eighth grade students from the Home and Careers classes operate the branch.
TVFCU’s Youth Banking Program expanded outside of the Batavia City School District in 2007 with a branch at Alexander Central School. Here, any student (grades 8-12) is eligible to work at the branch. This expansion continued in 2010 when Youth and Junior Banking branches opened at Elba Central School. The following year, TVFCU and Byron-Bergen Central School partnered to open both Youth and Junior Banking branches.
(See HOW TO GET INVOLVED for more information about working for your in-school branch)
Junior Banking Program
Any TVFCU member can access their account at these branches for cash and check deposits. Students who are interested in working at a Junior Banking branch have the ability to hold various job positions in addition to teller. These positions include: auditor, treasurer, president and customer service representative. A school-appointed branch liaison oversees branch activity at the Junior Banking level.
TVFCU partnered with John Kennedy Elementary School to create the first Junior Banking branch in 2003.
By 2006, with the addition of Junior Banking branches at Robert Morris and Jackson Elementary Schools, TVFCU completed its partnership with the entire Batavia City School District.
(See HOW TO GET INVOLVED for more information about working for your in-school branch)
TVFCU is proud of the strides both programs have made through the years, with a total of five Junior Banking branches and five Youth Banking branches.
GENERAL INFORMATION
TVFCU supports the in-school branches as a means to promote financial education to today’s youth, provide students with work experience in a professional environment and offer members accessibility and convenience to meet their financial needs.
Open an Account!
If you do not have a TVFCU primary savings account and wish to open one, you may do so at participating school branches. You will need to complete a Membership Enrollment card (http://www.tvfcubatavia.com/forms.htm) and provide TVFCU with a copy of your Social Security card*. You will also need to provide the $5.00 minimum balance requirement to open and maintain the account. Membership Enrollment cards are available at all Youth and Junior Banking branches.
A minor is not required to have a joint owner(s) on an account; however, it is strongly advised by TVFCU that a parent sign onto the account in order to access or help manage their child’s account. For information on how to add a joint owner to a new or existing account, please stop by any school branch or visit the TVFCU office.
*Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.
Student Access to Account Information
- Branch liaisons and student employees have limited access to members’ account information.
- No member numbers are required to access accounts at the Junior branches. Money is deposited using TVFCU Junior Banking envelopes, which are sealed and secured until returned to TVFCU.
- Deposit and withdrawal slips used at the Youth branches are two-part, enabling members to receive a receipt for transactions.
- No sensitive information is left at the branch at any time.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Students interested in working at a Youth branch will attend an introductory course and must submit a resume and attend a mock interview. During the interview process, students learn professionalism in a work environment.
- Students interested in working at a Junior branch will attend an introductory course, followed by a job description session.
- All student employees must complete TVFCU’s confidentiality training and sign TVFCU policies prior to performing any credit union transaction while working at an in-school branch.
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