Student-run credit union opens at Kiski Area High School

Dec. 6—An on-campus credit union is open at Kiski Area High School in Allegheny Township.

The Kiski Area Cash Stash, run by students, opened Monday.

In partnership with Pheple Federal Credit Union, the credit union is a fully functioning branch office, staffed by three high school students.

It's the first on-campus, student-run credit union branch in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Pheple — formerly the Westmoreland Community Federal Credit Union — changed its name to Pheple FCU in 2018 in reference to "People Helping People."

The student-run branches are an extension of Pheple's financial literacy program in schools, which began in 2009.

"There is no advantage for us. It's just educating the students of Westmoreland County," said Susan Lawson, Pheple director of community relations.

In 2013, Pheple opened its first student-run credit union, called Warrior Cash Stash, at Penn-Trafford High School.

In 2014, a second student branch, Centurion Cash Stash, opened at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School.

Kiski Area is the fourth school in Westmoreland County to feature a Pheple Federal Credit Union Branch. The other branch is at Westmoreland County Community College.

Stein said more student-run branches are expected in the future.

The Kiski Area School Board approved locating a branch office at the high school in March.

The new branch occupies what previously was a student help desk area.

Kiski Area students in grades 9-12 and faculty are eligible to become members.

Students must submit a student membership application and permission form, student ID or driver's license and have a minimum initial deposit of $5. Kiski Area Cash Stash hours are 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The office will be closed during the summer.

Members of the public can join the credit union, but, for safety and security reasons, only students and faculty on campus will be able to have access to the office inside the high school.

Membership benefits include these free services: checking and savings products, a Visa debit card, ATM use and mobile app with remote deposit.

Student tellers

Pheple community relations Vice President Linda Stein said student tellers who are hired come from all academic backgrounds.

"They don't have to be straight-A students. It's equal opportunity," Stein said. "We handle everything. The school gives us the facility and points us in the right direction for students that are interested."

Kiski Area's student tellers are seniors Braden Mika and Haley Phillips and junior Cole Graf. They underwent a six-week training period before Monday's grand opening.

Business teachers Ann Valesky and Sarah Gracey are co-sponsors. They teach finance classes at the high school.

The students will not be graded on their work performance, but they will undergo reviews at Pheple.

"All student tellers must follow all company rules and guidelines like any other employee," Lawson said.

Student tellers also must adhere to a dress code, usually black pants and a branded shirt.

"It's a work-on-campus opportunity," Gracey said.

Pheple would not disclose the hourly rates student tellers are paid, except to say it's more than minimum wage. The Kiski Area students said they're paid $12 per hour and work two hours per week during their lunch period.

The Kiski Area tellers were hired out of a pool of about 15 peer applicants and had to complete background checks.

For Graf, applying for employment was an easy decision.

"I have an interest in marketing," Graf said. "This is a brand new branch, and it's about getting people interested and getting applications."

Superintendent Misty Slavic praised the new program and its real-world applications for students.

"Through the training offered to our student employees of the credit union, our student workers learn valuable skills such as collaboration, patience, organization, responsibility and critical thinking," Slavic said. "Our student patrons of the credit union will see the value of saving money and the need for responsible spending."

All Kiski Area High School freshmen are required to complete a course in personal finance.

Lawson recalled Matt Senkow, the first student teller, hired in 2013.

Senkow is a Pheple vice president of finance.

"He started as a student teller at Penn-Trafford, worked for us in the summers, worked part-time as a college student," Lawson said. "He was going to be an electrician but changed his mind after becoming a student teller. He's got the potential to be a CEO."

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .