Bucks First Federal Credit Union knows the importance of financial education and is committed to helping individuals with their financial well being. Throughout the year we offer monthly financial education classes at our branches. These classes are available for members and non-members and are FREE.
Some of the topics we have covered:
- Credit and Debt
- Buying a Car
- Buying a House
- Identity Theft
Take a look at the schedule below for our upcoming classes. Please RSVP and let us know which class you would like to attend. Include: number of people attending, names of all attendees and phone number.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Gary Balakoff at 215-595-8676 or
gbalakoff@bucksfirstfcu.org
Do you need help with an event, a seminar or a special program? Bucks First Federal Credit Union knows the importance of financial education and can help with any type of presentation you might need. We have guest speakers available who can speak on a wide array of financial education topics. This service is FREE, can be held for a variety of age ranges and can be set up to accommodate whatever situation you may have.
Below are examples of a few of the topics we offer:
What is Money? – The basics of money, coins, bills, etc.
Making Money – How to look for a job and what to do with your earnings
Credit Union Basics – History, Difference between banks and credit unions
Budgeting and Spending Plan – How to create a budget
Your Credit Score and Report – How to read and maintain it
College – Learn to save and prepare for school
ID Theft – How to protect yourself
Credit and Borrowing – How to establish and maintain good credit
Mortgages – How to buy a house
If you would like to request a guest speaker, please contact Gary Balakoff, Business Development Specialist, at
gbalakoff@bucksfirstfcu.org.
As part of our Project Flipside Financial Education program, Bucks First FCU embarked on an exciting and unique partnership with Palisades School District by opening the first high school student-run credit union branch within Bucks County.
High school students operate a branch inside their high school under the supervision of a Bucks First FCU employee. The on-site branch offers students, faculty, staff and parents a full service financial institution where they can deposit funds, open savings and checking accounts and apply for loans. The school branch is open to those who normally have access to the school.
This initiative was developed by Bucks First to enhance its Project Flipside Financial Education Program with three major objectives in mind: to provide teens with real-life personal finance skills, job training and overall financial literacy for the entire student body.
Bucks First FCU Student-Operated Branches feature the following:
- Student-operated branches are true business laboratories that operate on school campuses
- Increased opportunities for financial literacy education
- Students learn how financial institutions operate
- Students act as employees of the credit union and operate and market the in-school branch
- Students experience and develop crucial social skills, and work-life skills
- Opportunities for full-time and summer employment for student employees
- High school students, faculty, and staff have the convenience of an on-site financial institution that promotes saving for the future
If your school is interested in opening a student branch, contact gbalakoff@bucksfirstfcu.org for more information.
As a valued member of Bucks First Federal Credit Union (FCU), we are committed to serving you. As a benefit of your membership, we are providing you with free access to financial education and counseling services.
Bucks First FCU has partnered with Accel, a financial counseling program. Through our partnership with Accel, you will enjoy unlimited access to financial counselors without paying – it’s free!
- Free Financial Counseling Sessions
Personal and family budgeting sessions focused on your concerns and needs including a detailed worksheet and action plan.
- Credit Reports and Credit Scores
Free analysis of your credit report and score. Request your free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and send them to Accel before your session, or Accel can provide you with copies of your report and score for a nominal fee.
- Debt Management Plans
Accel will contact your creditors to negotiate concessions and/or work out loan payment agreements including lower interest rates, elimination of fees and collection activities.
- Housing Counseling
Help with everything from pre-purchase education to foreclosure prevention. All Accel counselors are HUD certified. Ask about receiving a HUD certificate that is often required for First Time Home Buyer programs.
Accel can give personalized answers to your individual needs. For issues ranging from a proactive savings plan to saving a home from foreclosure, advice is only a phone call away.
Accel financial counselors, all of which are certified and have a bachelor's degree or higher, are available during the following hours:
| Hours (EST) |
Contact |
Monday - Thursday | 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday | 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
1.877.33.ACCEL – 1-877-332-2235
www.AccelServices.org |
+ Free Resources
CheckRight - A web-based checking account management education module designed to teach you how to manage a checking account.
Financial Video Library - This web video series targets the entire financial lifecycle and the situations that can impact your finances during each one of them. The helpful advice is relevant to everybody — youth, those in their middle years, and those planning for retirement.
BudgetSmart Software – Looking for a smarter way to manage money? The answer is simple. It’s BudgetSmart, an easy-to-use software tool designed to help families manage money more effectively. BudgetSmart is a complimentary software offered to Bucks First FCU members.
Financial Calculators - If you are looking to determine the cost of a loan, your monthly mortgage payments or save for retirement, check out this list of simple financial calculators.
Financial Worksheet – Use this worksheet as a guide to record your financial situation. After completing and printing the worksheet, feel free to call 877-33-ACCEL and schedule an appointment with an Accel financial counselor who can help you develop a personal budget and action plan.
Financial Education Articles & Podcasts – Accel’s information library contains pertinent information on many personal financial topics such as consumer awareness, credit reports, credit rights, credit scoring, financial difficulty, housing, kids and money, money management, retirement and more.
If you suspect you've been a victim of fraudulent activity or identity theft, we recommend that you call 800-680-7289 to place a fraud alert with the three (3) credit bureaus (Transunion, Equifax, Experian). If you place a fraud alert on your credit file, when you, or someone else, tries to open up a credit account by getting a new credit card, car loan, cell phone, etc., the lender should contact you by phone to verify that you really want to open a new account.
More information on how to place a FRAUD ALERT on your credit file
There have been a number of recent email scams targeting the Philadelphia area. These emails are an attempt to obtain personal account information from consumers. We want to ensure our members that Bucks First Federal Credit Union does not send email to anyone who is not a Bucks First FCU member, and will never solicit personal information via email or mail. If you receive an email that appears to be from Bucks First, but are the least bit unsure, please call the Credit Union to verify. Any fraudulent emails should be reported to the Credit Union and deleted from your system. If you have any questions or concerns related to email scams, please feel free to contact Bucks First at 215.788.5270 or ms@bucksfirstfcu.org.
Click Here To Learn More About ID Theft
Online Security Quiz
Wouldn’t it be nice to have our own Information Technology expert to keep a watch over our home computer? Most home computer users are left on their own when it comes to trying to keep their computers safe. It takes good practices and awareness to keep your home computer safe from outside hackers. Bucks First Federal Credit Union along with Digital Defense offers some helpful hints for online security. Take a few moments to read and complete the Online Security Quiz by clicking the link below, print it out, and bring it to a branch near you. We will give you a FREE gift for educating yourself, it’s that important.
Read the report and Take the Quiz
Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and has ranked as one of the top consumer concerns for the past several years. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has produced a multimedia presentation to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft. The presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft.
The Presentation is on the FDIC’s Web site at: http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/guard/index.html
Report Possible Fraud Or Identity Theft Activity Here
Please do not email personal financial information. Email is not a secure method of online communication. It is Bucks First FCU's policy to never ask for personal information via email. If you receive an email that looks like it's from Bucks First FCU requesting personal financial information, it may be fraudulent - a "phishing" scam. Report suspicious activity to Bucks First FCU immediately. To report specific information on your Bucks First FCU account, please call us at 215.788.5270 to ensure security of your information. Forward emails you suspect of "phishing" scams to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC is the government agency responsible for laws governing identity theft and related fraudulent activity.
