Community Financial Education Program
CASE Credit Union began as Capital Area School Employees Credit Union, founded to help serve educators, administrators, and those who work to strengthen and support youth on their educational paths.
Following in the spirit of this service philosophy, CASE's Education Program partners with schools and organizations to provide free virtual or in person financial education lessons to students and adults in our membership area.
Program Catalog:
High School and Adult Education Classes
Credit 101:
Participants will learn all about what makes up their credit score and the important things to do to build credit. They will also learn the importance of choosing a credit card best fit for their needs to avoid fees and negatively affecting their credit score. Participants will do an activity where they roll a dice to create their credit card and decide if it is one they should open or not. They will also look at some credit reports and decide who of the three people should receive a loan.
Debit vs Credit Cards:
Participants will learn all about what a debit and credit card is as well as the difference between the two. They will also learn the importance of reading their monthly statements and how to prevent opening their cards up to fraud. This session ends with a card sort activity where they have to decide if the person in the example is using a debit or credit card.
Financial Foundation:
Participants will learn the difference between a bank vs credit union as well as the different services they offer. Participants will learn why using a financial institution is a key component to financial success and learn about CASE Credit Union’s Community Development products and services built specifically to meet the needs of the Greater Lansing community. Participants will learn how and what they need to open an account at a financial institution.
Home Buying:
Participants will learn about the home buying process from budgeting for a down payment, to closing on a home. Participants will also learn key ways CASE can assist them with this process, and what types of support are available for down payment assistance in their community. Participants will discuss scenarios where one’s credit history may not yet support mortgage approval and learn strategies of how to repair that credit and set them up for financial success.
Needs vs Wants:
Participants will dive into all of the items and services we need to survive and how the things we want can impact our ability to purchase our needs. This presentation gets participants thinking about their everyday purchases and how those can affect their overall budget and overspending in ways we don’t need to! This also involves a movement activity where participants are up and moving around the room.
Saving and Budgeting:
Participants will learn what a budget is and be provided a budget sheet to begin keeping track of their money. They will also learn may different ways to save money on things we buy every single day! Participants will also follow along with an activity where they build a budget and have to maneuver their budget through some of life’s typical hardships.
Savings vs Checking Accounts:
Participants will learn all about what savings and checking accounts are. They will also learn about how to use a debit card and important safety measures to take while using one. Participants will also learn about checks and practice writing a check.
Your Emotional Response to Money:
Participants will learn all about how society and our behavior affect how we make financial decisions. In this session, participants will complete a series of activities and have to reflect on the decisions they made. They will learn all about the effects that loss aversion, the endowment effect, and mental accounting have on our everyday financial choices.
Financial Reality Fairs for High School and Middle School
Students may participate in “Financial Reality Fair” sponsored by the Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF) which gives them a perspective of what life could be like in their future! Financial Reality Fair is an hour-and-a-half, to 2-hour, real-life simulation. This event puts participants in a real-life adult scenario that they have to work to sort out on their own. Participants are given an occupation with a set income. Some have credit card debt and/or student loans. The participants have to follow that scenario by setting a budget and visiting different merchant booths to purchase housing, transportation, food, household necessities, clothing, daycare and other essential items. At each booth, participants are faced with choices that range from basic to luxury, and the participants have to decide what they can and can't afford. Merchants are in place to try to make big sales!! At the end, participants discuss problems they ran into, and what expenses they had, and what they learned from being an adult for a day. This fair is available to be held in person or virtually thru a phone app.
Advanced Middle School Classes (6th-8th Grade)
Banks vs Credit Unions:
Participants will learn the difference between a bank vs credit union as well as the different services they offer. Participants will also learn more about what CASE offers besides the usual services of a financial institution. Participants will learn how and what they need to open an account at financial institution. Participants will complete a card sort activity as well as role playing different services offered in a branch.
Savings vs Checking Accounts:
Participants will learn all about what savings and checking accounts are. They will also learn about how to use a debit card and important safety measures to take while using one. Participants will also learn about checks and practice writing a check.
Middle School & Elementary Activities (1st-8th Grade)
Building a Business:
Participants will learn key terms and concepts related to building a business. They will receive an activity where they create their own ice cream shop. They will choose a name, design and draw a logo, create a signature product, decide how to budget for supplies, and more!
Needs vs Wants:
Each session is tailored to the participants' needs, and all materials are provided. Schools and organizations can select a single session or multiple sessions with presentations lasting around one hour.
Community Events at CASE Credit Union
Our community events are geared towards educating the Greater Lansing Area on popular financial topics by inviting you to join special classes held in our branches or virtually via webinar. Our practice is engaging, comfortable, yet informative. You will come with a curious mind and leave inspired, with a list of actionable items that you can immediately implement to improve your financial life. Our community events are free for all who attend and are open to both the public as well as CASE members.
Community events offered by CASE in 2024:
- Protect Yourself from Holiday Fraud
- Youth Financial Literacy Class
**Topics for 2025 will be announced on our social media and in our branches. Be on the lookout for our next Community Event!**
If you are interested in having a topic presented to your group or organization please email Kate Blaha, Community Financial Education Coordinator, at CommunityEducation@CASECU.org or call 517.393.7710 ext 8337.