Binghamton High School

They’ll help you make “cents” out of your money. They can help you deposit it, too. Need a new account? They’ve also got you covered. The four Visions Federal Credit Union Financial Wellness interns from Binghamton High School are learning firsthand the importance of understanding and managing finances, and sharing that knowledge with students across the district.

“Not everyone has that access to be able to learn and engage in that topic. I know when I was younger I didn't have that opportunity, so for us to be able to share that with other students is pretty cool,” said BHS Senior Liana Beylo.

After applying and interviewing, Liana Beylo, Remi Campbell, Devonté Santiago, and Milo Wilson were chosen to be this year’s student-interns. They spend at least one class period per day interning, but oftentimes it can be up to four or five periods that they spend working if their school schedules allow. A big part of what they do is outreach to younger students at Binghamton’s elementary and middle schools, teaching them age-appropriate lessons on money and finances. 

“We travel to other schools and basically teach students about financial literacy. They’re not worried about money at that age, but we want to get them to start to understand it,” Santiago said. “Hopefully we can impact them in a positive way, because we’re high schoolers and they look up to us, so it feels good to have a positive influence on the younger children.”

Recently, what previously served as the Financial Wellness Center at BHS became a bona fide branch of Visions by adding a teller line. Making it an official branch was a result of the advocacy of the four BHS student-interns; they traveled to Visions’ headquarters and presented to the credit union’s Executive Vice President on the reasons they believed opening a branch at the high school was important.

“They did an amazing job, and the Executive Vice President went for it and helped us get it in here,” said Angela De Gennaro, Financial Wellness Officer for Visions and the student-interns’ advisor. “It was great that they were able to have that experience, not a lot of people can go into a company like that and pitch what’s called a Change Advisory Board proposal.”

At the new branch, the interns will learn the responsibilities of a teller - training that will allow them to jump right into a career in finance if they choose that route after graduation. The opportunity also provides the students with a number of non-tangible skills that will help them regardless of what career path they follow.

“We have a lot of responsibilities here: professionalism is one, being friendly, public speaking, being able to interact and communicate with people; trust comes with it too because we want people to trust us to give them the right information so they can make the right decisions with their money or with regards to banking.” Beylo said.

The BHS branch is a convenience for students and teachers as well. It’s a place they can visit during the school day and get help with topics that can sometimes be intimidating at a larger credit union or bank in the community.

“They can come in any time they want, easy access,” Santiago said. “And they know us so they can ask questions and, like Liana said earlier, we are people they can trust when they’re dealing with their account.”

Outside the high school, student-interns have the ability to shadow different departments at other Visions branches to gauge their interest in other sides of finance. Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate and scholarship for their work, along with a great resumé builder as they embark on the next step of their path to a career.

About Visions
Visions Federal Credit Union is a not for profit financial institution completely owned by its members. Established in 1966, Visions proudly serves over 250,000 members in communities throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Services include banking as well as auto, home, personal, and business loans. Visit www.visionsfcu.org for more information. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.