Access First FCU is proud to be a Ram! In 2008, Access First opened the first student-run branch in Kalamazoo County. The credit union is a proud partner with Galesburg-Augusta High School. The In-School Branch is open to students and staff members on Monday - Friday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm during the school year. This full service branch allows members to open accounts, conduct transactions, and inquire about loan services. Each school year, two students receive a paid internship where they earn work experience. Students receive training on financial software, member service, sales, and marketing.
The Student-Run Branch is built around the Banking and Finance Class offered to Juniors and Seniors as an elective course at Galesburg-Augusta High School. Access First staff members assist in teaching the course once a week. Our goal is to teach students fiscal responsibility. Balancing checking accounts, teaching what a credit score is, and explaining the difference between a credit card and debit card are some of the topics covered in the Banking and Finance Class.
We have enjoyed the partnership with Galesburg-Augusta High School as together we teach financial literacy.
