Promoting financial knowledge
Opening bank accounts, sharing information on what a credit score and many other banking tips are just some of the ways students are helping students while getting hands-on experience at Porterville High School.
The PHS PAB (Academy of Finance) Pathway branch of the Tulare County Federal Credit Union (TCFCU) located on campus reopened on October 1 for the 2018-19 school year, and once it again it will provide a unique learning opportunity for the academy’s students to sharpen their money skills.
“Today is our grand re-opening,” said Esmeralda Fernandez, a senior at PHS who has been part of the Pathway through her four years at PHS, and it’s her second year as a student financial representative. “This is a little entry for students to know what it is like to be part of the real world.”
Fernandez said students are able to open savings accounts, checking accounts and obtain a debit card, which comes along with the checking account.
“All they need is one dollar to open up the account,” said Fernandez.
On re-opening day, PAB students were outside the TCFCU office during lunch welcoming students,\ who were interested in learning more about their banking services.
There is not a required age to open up a savings account said Fernandez, but those who wish to open up a checking account with a debit card included need a joint owner, usually a parent.
“We are trying to get as many students to open accounts, because our academy promotes financial knowledge for our future,” said Fernandez. “As students we are able to keep these accounts even after we graduate from high school.”
PAB allows students to talk to other students and teach them how to handle their finances and how a bank account works for them to have knowledge when they are out of high school. This is the fourth year TCFCU has been at PHS, giving students the opportunity to train in the same capacity as their regular staff at their four local branches.
“It’s all work-based learning from clocking in, to clocking out, they learn everything about cash handling skills,” said Alexandria Martin, TCFCU branch manager, who has about 12 students enrolled in the class running their bank. “When they are able to work here they have earned it, because they have to pass certain required regulations and they have to be certified to be in this class.”
The 12 students involved learn everything about banking, like opening accounts and taking deposits and withdrawals. They spend at least four to five hours at the credit union weekly.
Currently three students who are employed with permanent jobs at TCFCU graduated from PHS and were in the Pathway.
“Not many people have the opportunity to work for a credit union before even graduating high school,” said Jason Pommier, Porterville Unified School District public information officer. “The emphasis is customer service and ethics because they are dealing with money.”
Fernandez said she is hoping to reach more students than last year to open up accounts.
“A lot has to do with speaking to students,” said Fernandez. “This is helping me to be less nervous with public speaking and comfortable enough to talk to professionals.”