Think banking careers are all about counting money behind bullet-proof glass?
Think again.
Twenty-six high school students from Camden just got a serious reality check—the good kind—when First Harvest Credit Union opened its doors to show them what financial services actually looks like in 2026.
The students, all part of the Camden School District’s Future Bankers & Financial Professionals Camp, spent the day at First Harvest’s Financial Innovation Lab located at Rowan College of South Jersey. And no, they weren’t just shadowing someone’s coffee runs. This was the real deal: hands-on learning, face time with actual decision-makers, and a glimpse into careers they probably didn’t know existed.
More Than Just a Field Trip
The Future Bankers & Financial Professionals Camp isn’t your typical “let’s get out of class for a day” situation. This program targets high-achieving minority juniors and seniors, giving them a leg up in the competitive world of financial services. It’s a collaboration between some heavy hitters: the Center for Financial Training International, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Bank, local colleges, universities, and financial institutions that actually want to invest in the next generation.
The goal? Help students build college readiness, understand financial education, and develop the kind of workplace skills that’ll make them stand out—whether they’re heading to university or straight into the workforce.
What Did They Actually Learn?
Here’s where it gets interesting. The students didn’t just sit through a PowerPoint presentation (thank goodness). They got the full tour of RCSJ’s Gloucester County campus, learned about the college’s programs, and heard directly from First Harvest department leaders about what they actually do all day.
These weren’t canned speeches either. Leaders shared real talk about their career paths—the wins, the pivots, probably a few “I didn’t think I’d end up here” stories—and explained how their teams impact both credit union performance and member experience. You know, the stuff that matters when you’re trying to figure out your future.
Why Credit Unions Are Different
“The Future Bankers & Financial Professionals Camp exposes aspiring young professionals to promising futures in the financial services industry,” said Mike Dinneen, President & CEO of First Harvest. But he didn’t stop there. “Our credit union’s participation gives us the unique opportunity to share our community-based values and ‘people helping people’ philosophy with these receptive students.”
That’s credit union-speak for: we’re not just about profit margins. First Harvest serves both the Camden School District and the City of Camden as part of its membership, so this wasn’t just good PR—it was investing in their own community.
Dinneen added that the professional exposure and real-world banking experience these students gained “will be invaluable to their futures and will help guide them on their path to success.” Plus, he noted, the credit union appreciated hearing the students’ own ideas and perspectives on where banking is headed. Because let’s face it—if you want to know the future of finance, ask the people who’ll be running it in ten years.
The Bigger Picture
Programs like this matter because they open doors that might otherwise stay closed. They show students that financial services isn’t some monolithic, stuffy industry—it’s diverse, it’s evolving, and there’s room for fresh perspectives. And for students in Camden, having access to these opportunities right in their own backyard? That’s the kind of thing that can change trajectories.
So here’s to the 26 students who showed up, asked questions, and maybe—just maybe—saw a future version of themselves in those First Harvest team leaders. The financial industry could use more people who understand that banking isn’t just about money. It’s about people.