Gesa Credit Union Announces Grand Opening of Renton High School Branch

November 28, 2023

Gesa, based in Richland, Washington, recently announced the expansion of its High School Credit Union Program with the opening of its 13^th student-run branch at Renton High School.

At the new branch, students can open Gesa checking and savings accounts, and they, along with staff members, can process deposits and withdrawals during designated hours of the school day.

The branch will operate in conjunction with Renton High School’s DECA program and school store class and provide real-world work experience to 15 DECA students as student tellers. It will also offer a year-long paid internship to one student who will serve as the Renton High School campus branch manager. This year, senior student Abigail Nakimuli was selected from her class for the internship.

“When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer like my mom but as I started taking my IB Business class, I knew I wanted to explore this field further. So, when my business professor shared Gesa’s internship program on Canvas, I saw an opportunity and decided to apply,” said Nakimuli. “I am very grateful for this internship, and it’s been exciting to explore the various careers in banking. This opportunity will help me determine my focus for the future, and I’m eager to continue to learn from this experience.”

Gesa and the Renton High School branch have been hosting an extensive student giveaway to introduce the branch to students and welcome them to the program. The credit union is also offering a ‘Back-to-School’ membership campaign, where students can earn $100 towards their Gesa savings account.

Gesa’s High School Credit Union Program has provided hands-on, real-life financial industry experience for high school students since 2000. In 2022, the program made history by becoming the first Financial Sector Career Launch-endorsed program in the state of Washington through Career Connect Washington. The Career Launch program combines meaningful, high-quality, on-the-job experience with classroom learning to ensure Washington students are college and career-ready.

“We are honored to be working with such talented students and educators as we continue to provide real-life financial experience through our High School Credit Union program,” said Brandon Allison, AVP of Training, Education, and Community Relations at Gesa Credit Union. “Individuals like Abigail and our Student Tellers represent our future leaders and witnessing them thrive in this setting has been amazing. As we continue to expand this program, we hope to provide even more students with the opportunity to receive industry-recognized credentials that will make them a competitive candidate in today’s job market.”

For a full list of Gesa’s High School branch locations, or to learn more about the High School Credit Union Program, visit https://www.gesa.com/category/high-school-credit-unions/.

Posted in Financial Education, Regional Member News, Washington.