St. Louis, MO - 1st Financial Federal Credit Union, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), focused on serving the community with education, job training and sustainable housing resources, has announced their 2016 scholarship winners.
For 17 years 1st Financial has awarded two scholarships for students to be used at the college or university of their choice. The Horizon and Right Stuff scholarship is given to students with an exceptional academic history and evidence of a strong presence in their school and community. The applicants are also asked to write a short essay concerning how credit unions affect the communities they serve.
Katie Kotlarczyk and Jasmine Lowery were selected to receive the $1,000 scholarship from 1st Financial this year as they continue on with their higher education degrees. Katie will be attending Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville to finish her degree in Biology and Jasmine will be attending Missouri Western State University where she will be working to receive her degree in Social Work.
Ms. Lowery was quoted in her essay as saying "I was able to open a savings account with no minimum balance constraints, and no employment with just one dollar. This was an excellent benefit for me to learn how to save at an early age."
1st Financial Federal Credit Union is also excited to announce their participation in�awarding a new scholarship in partnership with District 837 Machinist Union.� District 837 was the union from which 1st Financial was founded in 1968 and continues to serve their members today.� The Human Rights Committee along with District 837 and 1st Financial selected two recipients and contributed to their college education. 1st Financial Federal Credit Union presented a check in the amount of $1,500.
"We are so honored to be helping these exceptional students with the next step of their journey", stated Carol Minges, CEO of 1st Financial Federal Credit Union.� She went on to say "We believe education is maybe the most important first step in achieving financial sustainability.� We are dedicated to helping our members and their children find success in education from Kindergarten to college.� Our scholarship program is just one piece of that huge puzzle."
About 1st Financial Federal Credit Union
Like all credit unions, 1st Financial is a member-owned, financial cooperative. 1st Financial Federal Credit Union was chartered on September 3, 1968 as District 837 Credit Union by the International Association of Machinist members employed by McDonnell Douglas. Today, with over 30,000 members and nearly $200 million in assets, 1st Financial is a St. Louis metro area financial institution dedicated to helping members achieve their financial dreams. For over 45 years 1st Financial has provided members with a full line of dependable financial products and services which returns profits to the members in the form of lower rates on loans and higher savings yields. The cooperative nature of credit unions enables 1st Financial to provide products and services at very reasonable rates.
1st Financial Federal Credit Union serves those who live, work, worship, attend school, or regularly conduct business in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, Missouri and a wide array of companies throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. 1st Financial is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial organization committed to providing quality services to the membership while demonstrating safe and sound business practices. Deposits are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the U.S. Government.
Not a credit union member?�If you live, work, worship, attend school, or regularly conduct business in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, Missouri, you can open an account today with 1st Financial Federal Credit Union. Visit
www.TheBetterWayToBank.org for more information.
