The Federation offers education and training to credit union staff, board members, volunteers, and organizing groups through a variety of educational opportunities designed to bring top-notch resources and high-impact programming to low- and moderate-income communities.

 On this page:

• Professional Development Programs
• Financial Literacy Programs
• Other Training Programs
• Questions & Comments

  Professional Development Programs

• The CDCU Institute™ - Launched in 1999, the Institute is a three-year professional development program for CDCU staff and board officials. The CDCU Institute™ is the only program of it's type dedicated to the specific needs and issues surrounding CDCUs. If you currently serve low-income or minority populations, or are considering an expansion into an underserved area, then the CDCU Institute™ is for you! Institute graduates who complete the 3-year curriculum receive a certificate in CDCU management.

• Affordable Mortgage Lending Trainings - The Federation's first Affordable Mortgage Lending Seminar was held in December of 2006, and were created with the idea of encouraging credit unions of all sizes to enter the mortgage business. Industry experts help to teach credit unions the ins and outs of mortgage programs. To see presentations from the 2008 workshop please, click here.

Financial Literacy Programs

• Each One, Teach Many - The Federation's signature Financial Literacy "Train-the-Trainer" program launched in the fall of 2002 with the support of the American Express Economic Independence Fund. The program has trained now over 16,000 credit union members and is still going strong.
   
• BALANCE - The Federation's Partnership with BALANCE^TM brings this over-the-phone and internet financial counseling tool to our members for free or at a discount. This program provides another option for financial literacy to credit unions who need more resources, and another option to those who already offer programs. The program is generously sponsored by our Community Development Partners.
   
• FoolProof Financial Education - FoolProof Financial Education Systems provides rigorous, web-driven consumer advocacy and financial education programs exclusively to credit unions.  FoolProof’s “Workplace” series of financial education modules targets underserved consumers who enter the workplace with few financial or consumer skills. FoolProof's suite of five turnkey programs are designed to provide credit unions extraordinary financial education tools for all ages and constituencies. The services provided through this program are available only through credit unions or other not-for-profit entities. Federation-member CDCUs under $10 million in assets receive FoolProof programs free of charge, while member CDCUs with more than $10 million-in-assets can license the programs for a discounted fee. FoolProof currently works with more than 100 credit unions and over a dozen credit union leagues and foundations.

  Other Training Programs 

• Annual Conferences on Serving the Underserved offer credit unions looking to serve low- and moderate-income communities with training on CDCU operations, regulations, technology, funding programs, public policy and much more.
   
• New York/New Jersey Community Financial Network (NY/NJCFN) - The NY/NJCFN is the oldest and largest regional consortium of independent, non-profit, community-owned credit unions dedicated to serving low-income people and promoting neighborhood reinvestment in New York City. To join NYCFN, or for additional information, contact Pam Owens at 800.437.8711x215 or powens@cdcu.coop.
   
• Our Technical Assistance Department can prepare custom training sessions at your credit union.

 Questions & Comments

For more information about the Federation's Education and Training programs and events, please contact Pamela Owens at powens@cdcu.coop, or 800.437.8711 x215.