The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Secretary-designee Wendy K. Baumann and DFI Assistant Deputy Secretary Catherine Haberland visited Royal Credit Union (Royal) on Wednesday, October 1, to engage with students participating in Royal’s School $ense program, a financial education initiative that operates 30 student-run credit union branches in elementary, middle, and high schools across the state.
The visit began at Royal’s corporate headquarters in Eau Claire, where Baumann addressed 31 fourth and fifth grade students from Robbins Elementary and Meadowview Elementary. The students were onsite to receive hands-on training to gain the skills to process transactions at their schools and to help their peers make deposits while developing healthy saving habits. Baumann spoke about the role of the DFI and emphasized the importance of confidentiality in financial institutions—an essential concept the students were learning as part of their training as Royal team members.
Baumann and Haberland also toured Royal’s student-run credit union at Eau Claire North High School, where they met with student tellers and learned more about their internship with Royal and involvement in the Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship program.
“We are proud to showcase the impact of our School $ense program and the dedication of our student tellers,” said Jennifer McHugh, VP of Community Engagement at Royal Credit Union. “It’s an honor to host Secretary-designee Baumann and Assistant Deputy Secretary Haberland and share our commitment to empowering youth through financial education.”