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Something Students Can Bank On

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By MICHELE SAGER

msager@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - Students at Bowers/Whitley Career Center are keeping more of their paycheck thanks to a new partnership at the school.

The school has opened a branch of the Suncoast School Credit Union and installed an ATM. Principal Tony Colucci said the move was to help his working students.

"Because we're a career center, a lot of our students work part-time jobs," he said. "But many had to take their paychecks to these check cashing places and were losing a big chunk of their checks to fees."

Colucci said students were paying up to 18 percent just to cash their check.

"When you're only making $100, that's about $20 lost," he said.

So Colucci approached the credit union about opening a branch at the school. Once a week, the credit union sets up a place where students can do their banking with a teller. They can also use a free ATM on campus.

Now students like Jamesa Crowder can access their account during their lunch period. Students need a minimum of $5 to open an account and can take out as little as $1.

Colucci said giving students access to a bank has made many students feel safer.

"Some of them told me they always worried about getting jumped and robbed after cashing their paychecks," he said. "It also has taught students how to budget and how to save."

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843.

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