Financial Center First Credit Union Selected for National Credit Union Foundation’s At-Risk Youth Financial Well-Being Grant

Financial Center is one of 24 credit unions nationwide chosen to receive funding to expand financial well-being programs for at-risk youth.

Indianapolis, IN | Financial Center First Credit Union shares it has been selected to receive funding through the National Credit Union Foundation's At-Risk Youth Financial Well Being Grant. Financial Center is one of 24 credit unions nationwide chosen for this year's cohort, after the Foundation received the strongest response to a call for applications in the program's history.

The credit union will use its grant award to launch the Financial Independence & Economic Mobility Program, serving youth and young adults ages 16–24 across Indiana, with a focus on those who may face barriers to financial stability. The program will combine financial education and individualized coaching with savings and credit-building opportunities, leadership and entrepreneurship development, and other resources designed to help participants build practical skills and take meaningful steps toward financial independence.

“Financial confidence doesn’t happen overnight. It starts with having someone in your corner who can make financial decisions feel less overwhelming and more achievable,” said Billy Wells, Chief Growth Officer of Financial Center First Credit Union. “This funding gives us an opportunity to reach more young people earlier, give them practical tools they can use today, and help them prepare for the future.”

“A young person’s financial well-being is the throughline that influences nearly every opportunity that follows, from education and employment to housing and long-term stability,” said Lauren Culp, executive director at the National Credit Union Foundation. “What we saw in this grant cycle was extraordinary commitment from 24 credit unions eager to address those challenges in their communities,”

The grant period runs September 30, 2026, through September 30, 2027. Financial Center joins 23 other credit unions nationwide selected for this year's cohort.