HOME

Recommended for ages 9 - 12

Participants discuss making responsible financial decisions while looking at their personal aspirations in the context of how to make the world a better place. They contemplate trade-offs, emergency funds, and the importance of planning and designing a budget. Participants learn key financial concepts and form positive attitudes and behaviors that can help them become financially capable young adults.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 15-18

Participate in the creation and implementation of a realistic budget through a simulated experience. An occupation, income, and obligatory expenses are assigned with a spending plan. Learn to record all transactions using a spend/debit register. Debrief on personal experiences and skills acquired to create and enhance your own budget.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

See all seminars

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in our region, SEFCU’s Community Support program launched an application for emergency funds to help non-profits that would be serving increased needs in the community. In adhering to SEFCU’s Giving Guidelines, funds were allocated to support the quickly multiplying numbers of individuals, youth, and families as they began to serve more and more people became financially strapped due to being out of work. 

Ages 18+

Develop an effective debt pay-down strategy. Gain an understanding for debt levels and reflect on what is considered good debt and bad debt. A basic budgeting framework is also discussed. 

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 9 - 12

Create and explore your feelings and ideas on basic financial decisions and philanthropy. Self-reflect to determine how you can share your skills and talents to make a positive impact in your community.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 15-18

Explore costs related to funding higher education. Navigate the financial aid process (FAFSA) and develop strategies to pay for college by evaluating current and future financial means as compared to anticipated financial commitment. Discussion on the hidden costs of college and possible financial resources available are outlined. Parents or guardians of the student who will be applying for financial aid are strongly encouraged to attend.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

See all seminars

This is a difficult time for so many in our community and with massive layoffs, many people in the Capital Region are turning to food pantries more than ever to feed themselves and their families. In the month of March, the SEFCU Freight Farm responded to this growing need. Our Freight Farm, which has been in operation since early 2018 at the corporate office at 700 Patroon Creek Blvd in Albany, regularly donates about half of its produce to organizations that have weekly pickups such as the Food Pantries for the Capital District. But in March when SEFCU sent many of its staff to work from home, the produce from our Freight Farm went solely to non-profits instead of the hybrid model of feeding staff and the community that we have followed since beginning community donations.

Recommended for ages 16+

Apply a planned buying process to identify needs and wants in making an informed automobile purchase. Compare earnings to vehicle cost and identify guidelines for using debt responsibly. Evaluate loan and insurance terms, and the potential for fraud.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 9 - 12

Create a heart map as you explore your own passion and drive to make a positive social impact. Apply elements of math and art to make informed financial decisions while following your  passion. Discuss trade-offs and budgeting and share ideas and solutions for real-world challenges.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Changing Lives Every Day is more than a slogan and now more than ever, SEFCU continues to support the community with necessary supplies, financial support, and volunteers during the COVID-19 crisis. In March we sprung into action quickly, providing $80,000 in financial grants as part of our SEFCU Hunger Support Package, donating emergency supplies to non-profits serving families and youth, and launching Heroes Landing, a respite center for medical staff from Albany-area hospitals. Additionally, our Freight Farm moved to a community donation model in mid-March for fresh produce to be given to non-profits feeding people in need.

Ages 18+

Planning for a secure financial future can be overwhelming. A variety of topics regarding growing, protecting, and saving funds for retirement will be discussed. Common ways to prepare for retirement are identified, along with an introduction to the basics of wills, trusts, and social security earnings. Topics will help in understanding the importance of early planning for retirement. This session is an overview and non-advisory.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

See all seminars

Ages 18+

Become familiar with several elements of home buying, such as: the roles of the realtor, home inspector, loan officer, buyer and seller. Explore the broad impact a home purchase can have on personal finances and identify financial preparation steps needed for success.  Tips related to the property, the transaction, and the move, as well as advantages/disadvantages of home buying are covered.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 11-13

Learners will explore how to make informed consumer decisions through role-playing exercises. They will learn to build positive spending habits with real-world practice examples.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Ages 5-8

Using the book, Joe the Monkey Saves for a Goal by John Lanza, youth will make decisions about how to spend, share, and save money. Following reading and discussion, children are encouraged to create their own save jar and to establish a financial goal. 

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Ages 14-17

Explore the key differences between wants and needs and discuss opportunity costs and trade-offs. Learn to write personal checks and record transactions in a check register.  Key differences and appropriate uses of debit cards, credit cards, and cash are discussed.  

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 18+

Apply the 50-30-20 rule for determining fixed expenses, flexible spending, and financial goals. Explore the benefits of developing a written spending plan, how to track income and expenses, and strategies for record keeping through a scenario-based applied learning approach. 

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 11 - 13

Explore what it takes to be an entrepreneur by creating your own business or product concept. Learn basic banking and terms associated with savings and checking accounts. A metaphoric visioning activity is incorporated to help with future financial aspirations.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 9 - 12

Learn what it means to be a business owner and how entrepreneurship is an available career option. Expand your ability to solve problems and think critically while learning relevant vocabulary, the role of a financial institution (i.e.: a credit union or bank), essential financial concepts, and how to project costs and establish product pricing for your start-up business. 

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 10-16

Identify what it takes to become financially independent by setting S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals, creating a written financial plan, and distinguishing between needs and wants. Explore how investing in your own personal human capital can increase the likelihood of career success. Working in teams, participants will develop a creative presentation synthesizing their knowledge of the targeted financial and goal-setting concepts and skills.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

See all seminars

SEFCU spearheaded an effort in collaboration with BBL, and thanks to additional support from CDPHP and MVP Health Care, to transform the Hilton Garden Inn across from Albany Med into “Heroes Landing,” – a respite for our doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to receive much-needed rest, nutrition, comfort, and strength between shifts.

Ages 18+

Financial decisions made today will greatly impact your future. When using credit you are spending your future income. This concept will be the backdrop of this session where learners will explore managing credit responsibly, how to obtain credit, and the meaning of credit scores and credit reports.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

Recommended for ages 9 - 12

Integrate math, science, and technology to create opportunities for making informed decisions and to explore solving social concerns, such as hunger.  Seek answers on how to feed the community through growing sustainable food. Three types of gardens, concepts of money, and making trade-offs in relationship to a budget are discussed. Work in teams, share learning experience, brainstorm, and compare various ideas based on a common theme.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Recommended for ages 14-17

Participants will be exposed to key concepts about paychecks, such as: the differences between gross and net income, details on pay stub (i.e. payroll deductions, and taxes), and payroll forms such as the I-9, W-2, and W-4.  

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars

SEFCU is on a mission to give back every single day of the year, and now more than ever with our communities challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are responding to the emergent needs of non-profits throughout SEFCU’s four regions (Capital Region, Southern Tier, Central NY and Western NY). Non-profits serving youth and families are experiencing higher volumes than usual due to more people visiting their shelters and support service organizations. In March, we immediately responded by purchasing items in most need for these organizations with allocating over $6,000 of Giving for Good dollars to purchase items for organizations serving additional individuals due to loss of wages and other challenges.

Ages 18+

Learn to identify ways to protect personal financial information from scam artists and identity thieves. Explore the tactics used to steal an individual’s identity, information, and money. Practice resolving identity theft issues and become familiar with the steps it takes to report a scam.

To create the optimal experience, each session is limited to 100 participants.

Please choose a date and time:

Register

Register

Register

Register

Register

See all seminars