Financial education at any age is essential to financial security. Financial education at a young age can teach the importance of developing a savings habit, and protect against the future barrage of predatory credit offers.

The Alternatives Student Credit Union provides financial education and banking services for people under the age of nineteen

The young people who volunteer as Student Credit Union staff gain hands-on experi-ences. As one of them said, "This program is fantastic for developing young people for work and the challenges of life beyond high school."

The Student Credit Union offers:

• Financial Education
• Savings Accounts
• Checking Accounts
• Alternatives VISA Debit Card
• Alternatives VISA Credit Card
• Student Loans
• Car Loans
• Personal Loans
• Individual Development Accounts

"In a world where it is assumed that young people would rather rob a bank than work in one, Alternatives Credit Union is 'Alternative' in everything, especially in how they're willing to act toward teens."
Student Credit Union Volunteer

Alternatives' Student Credit Union has two programs. "Dollars for Dreams" is our elementary and middle school program, and "Student Credit Union

Branch Locations:

High School Branches:

Ithaca High School
1401 North Cayuga St

Lehman Alternative Community School
111 Chestnut Street

Dollars for Dreams:

Lehman Alternative Community School
111 Chestnut Street

Boynton Middle School
1601 North Cayuga Street

Cayuga Heights Elementary School
110 E. Upland Road, Cayuga Heights

Enfield Elementary School
20 Enfield Main Road

Beverly J. Martin Elementary School
302 W. Buffalo Street

Accounts can be opened at any of our Student Credit Union branches or at Alternatives Credit Union. Membership is $2.00 and a $1.00 deposit is required. For students whose parent or guardian is already a member of Alternatives, the $2.00 membership fee is waived.

Some of the benefits of being a Student Credit Union member are:

• Student savings accounts receive a higher interest rate than our regular savings accounts.
• Student members may open checking accounts. These accounts have no minimum balance and no monthly fees. A co-signer is necessary if the student is under 18.
• An Alternatives Visa Debit Card is available by application with a check-ing account. This card can be used to withdraw cash anywhere VISA is accepted. Funds withdrawn are deducted from the student's checking ac-count.
• The Student Credit Union offers personal loans up to $500 as a venue for building a good credit history. A co-signer is necessary if the student is under 18.
• A Student VISA Credit Card is available by application. With no annual fee, this card gives parents the opportunity to work with their child to learn sound credit card usage. It's also a good way to build a good credit history.
• Members of the Student Credit Union can open an Individual Develop-ment Account, a matched savings plan to fund education, if their family income qualifies.
• Stafford and PLUS Loans for college are available.

For More information email- scu@alternatives.org