CFTEA Welcomes Jennifer Smith to the CFTEA Council!
CFTEA Council Spotlight: Jennifer Smith
AVP, Retail Experience Officer
Union Bank
Meet Jennifer Smith, AVP and Retail Experience Officer at Union Bank, who enthusiastically gained more information on CFTEA from CFTEA Board Member, Melissa Greene, and has joined as a new CFTEA council member. Driven by her own experience, Jennifer is passionate about promoting financial literacy and education, which she believes is a fundamental right for all.
Why CFTEA? Jennifer’s journey to CFTEA council is rooted in her commitment to empower communities through financial education. Growing up, financial literacy and education weren’t a focus, which led to challenges she now recognizes as preventable. Her mission is to ensure everyone has access to financial education and to empower employees of financial institutions to share this knowledge with their employees and communities. “I believe that everyone has the right to financial education directly, and every person employed by a financial institution should be empowered to spread that education to their respective community. I want to be part of that impact.”
Experience with CFTEA and Financial Literacy Though Jennifer’s direct experience with CFTEA is just beginning, her dedication to financial literacy spans eight years. She has hosted numerous community literacy classes and partnered with local businesses to provide valuable financial education. Her efforts have made a significant impact, one story stands out:
Mirroring CFTEA Core Values in Action: Trusted, Flexible, Passionate, Innovative Jennifer recalls a time when she taught a financial literacy class at a small business. After the session on Health Savings Accounts, a couple approached her, feeling overwhelmed by their financial situation. With the business owner’s permission, Jennifer took the couple aside for a private conversation. They had taken out a large loan for their sons’ education and were struggling to manage their debt and bills.
Through compassionate conversations and tailored lending products, Jennifer helped them regain control of their finances and rebuild their confidence. Two weeks later, the couple returned with their young adult sons, seeking similar guidance. This ripple effect led to one of their sons purchasing his first home, showcasing the far-reaching impact of Jennifer’s dedication.
Rewards and Challenges Jennifer looks forward to contributing to the creation and education around financial literacy as a CFTEA council member. With an opportunity to work with fellow CFTEA council members from different organizations, she’s looking to expand her knowledge and learn from diverse perspectives.
Join us in congratulating Jennifer for adding her voice in guiding CFTEA as a non-profit that supports employees, organizations, and the community! Welcome aboard, Jennifer!
CFTEA Council Spotlight: Jennifer Smith