Redstone Federal Credit Union

r e d f c u.o r g | 3 Redstone's Schools Program has garnered two recent awards for its efforts to provide work experience and financial literacy to its participating students. e Schools Program consists of eight high school branches and three college/ university branches that are fully operated by the students. Students gain real-life work experience, improve their financial literacy, and earn money while training. Schools also benefit from Redstone's specially designed debit card that pays the school with each swipe. e branded debit cards have generated over $742,000 for the educational partners. Recently, the Schools Program won a statewide award for its commitment to youth financial education from CUNA (the Credit Union National Association). e program is also a regional winner of the Work-Based Learning Best Practices competition sponsored by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship. e Austin High School branch will also be featured on Alabama Public Television this winter. Joe Newberry, Redstone's President and CEO, applauds the partnership and collaboration of this important program. A new student-run branch now operates inside Scottsboro High School. e branch is the eighth high school for Redstone and our first in Jackson County. Student tellers gain real-life work experience, improve their financial literacy, and earn money while training. e branch is open to students, faculty, and staff at the school. "Providing financial education to our members strengthens the cooperative, strengthens communities, and strengthens the next generation," Newberry said. e Schools Program educates youth on financial matters, trains them to teach their family and classmates, and then shows them how beneficial it can be by providing employment, class credit, and a stronger financial foundation. Alabama now requires financial courses for its high school students, and this program, in tandem with Redstone's Financial Education Department, works to help satisfy this requirement. Since its inception in 2017, 223 students and 22 teachers have worked in the high school branches, while 38 students have worked in the college/university branches. In addition to the work experience and school credit, graduating seniors can also apply for a $2,000 scholarship. Redstone has paid out $52,000 in scholarships since 2017. Scottsboro High School Branch Opens Redstone's Schools Program Wins Awards

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