Schools

Check This Out: WHS Gets Credit Union

Central One Federal Credit Union's second school branch opened at Westborough High on Monday.

Westborough High School's newest addition further will prepare students to balance their checkbooks.

By allowing students to do their banking during the school's lunch periods.

Central One Federal Credit Union officially opened a Westborough High School branch on Monday.

Students will help run the branch, which is open only to students and school employees during the lunch periods, Central One President/CEO David L'Ecuyer said.

L'Ecuyer told the crowd that such opportunities will give students "a fighting chance" when they begin supporting themselves "with difficult decisions: mortgages, car loans" and such.

"We're here to make sure they understand what they're getting into," he said.

Central One's involvement in Westborough began with opening a Westborough branch, at 40 South St., four years ago, L'Ecuyer said.

Central One employees also have taught a financial literacy seminar at WHS for the past four years, he said.

"Between running the branch, going through financial literacy, the utilization of the branch, we think it's a great education for young people," L'Ecuyer said.

Westborough High has Central One's second school branch, he said. Shrewsbury High School has the first one.

School Superintendent Marianne O'Connor said the discussions began more than a year ago.

"We saw this in Shrewsbury. And after we got invited to that, I came back and said, 'We have to do this in Westborough,'" she said.

"This is so great. It's such a great opportunity for our students to be able to have some financial responsibilities."

Principal Brian Callaghan said the branch, which occupies former office and conference space, is an extension of Central One's financial literacy program at WHS.

"This makes it real and relevant. Financial institutions are a part of communities. We're very grateful that this credit union is part of our school," he said.

"It's something we think is much needed, especially for our graduating students. Seeing it maybe puts it in their mind that they need to take some responsibility for how to spend their money."


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