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Cartoon illustration of CFTEA Executive Director Andrew Lederer styled as a cheerful baker. He is wearing a white chef hat, green shirt, and white apron. He is smiling and holding two plates with slices of pie topped with whipped cream. Text on the image reads CFTEA Snacks and Bite Sized News. The background is blue with yellow paint accents. Bank Training. Professional Development.

Fresh Out of the Oven: The 2025 CFTEA Annual Report

November 3, 2025

That’s right—our Annual Report has officially dropped. Think of it as the “behind-the-scenes” tour on our financial transparency, affordability, and highlights of how we’ve been serving YOU. From impact stories to growth numbers, it’s all baked in. Spoiler alert: no cliffhangers, but plenty of reasons to feel proud about the year we’ve built together. Why it matters: Because not all sequels flop. Unlike Sharknado 5 or that one extra Fast & Furious movie, the CFTEA Annual Report is proof that

A smiling woman stands in a softly lit hallway with paneled walls and carpeted floors. She has shoulder length brown hair and is wearing a black blazer over a dark blue top with a small necklace. The background is slightly blurred, and a gold bar along the bottom displays cftea.org.

Questions, C Bucks, and Controlled Chaos—CFTEA Style

October 30, 2025

Ever wonder what really goes on at a CFTEA Leaders Conference? Picture this: a room full of smart, passionate professionals who came armed with questions and looking for C Bucks. Last year’s evaluations said it loud and clear. People wanted time to dig in, ask questions, and swap ideas. You asked. We delivered. CFTEA Board President, Nancy Hines, took the questions collected during registration and brought them to life. Some were for the audience, some for Andrew, and some were

Two people stand smiling beside a CFTEA banner at an event. The man on the left is wearing a dark green short-sleeve shirt and brown pants, and the woman on the right is wearing a cream jacket and holding a small award. The banner behind them reads “CFTEA: Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance” and lists Certificates, Diplomas, Nationally Recognized Certifications, and Educational Career Paths with the tagline “Unlock Your Potential.” The bottom of the image features a gold banner with the website cftea.org. CFT Bank Training

Celebrating Leadership that Truly Makes a Difference: Maureen Golden

October 29, 2025

Congratulations to Maureen Golden from Community National Bank, recipient of the 2025 CFTEA Making a Difference Award. Maureen’s leadership as Chair of the CFTEA Regional Advisory Council during 2024 and 2025 has been nothing short of inspiring. From her very first meeting, she brought new energy and a can do spirit that turned ideas into action. Impact stories were shared. Plans became results. And change took root. Under her guidance, Maureen began a new tradition of updating the CFTEA Board

Don’t Miss Out

October 27, 2025

Fall into savings! Take advantage of 10% off during the Guided Learning Sale. Applies to enrollments received October 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025. Explore All Guided Learning Classes https://cftea.org/courses/?filters=format/guided-learning ABA Analyzing Financial Statements Banking Today Business Math ABA Commercial Lending ABA Consumer Lending Deposit Accounts & Services Financial Accounting Frontline Fundamentals Fundamentals of Real Estate Appraisal General Accounting Human Relations Human Resource Management ABA Legal Foundations in Banking Loan Collectors Training Management ABA Marketing ABA Money and Banking ABA

Flipcharts, Flying Markers, and a Few C Bucks on the Line

October 23, 2025

Ever wonder what really happens at a CFTEA Leaders Conference? Sure, there is learning, networking, and all that professional stuff, but let’s be honest, the C Bucks might have had something to do with the extra energy in the room. The final session before the big silent auction showdown had everyone strategizing. Could this be the moment to earn enough C Bucks for those coveted AirPods? Or maybe for something equally fierce, like the rubber duckies? (Yes, the competition was

2025 CFTEA Sapphire Award: Casey Bailey and Northfield Savings Bank

October 22, 2025

Each year, CFTEA’s Sapphire Award recognizes organizations and leaders who make learning and employee development a true priority. This year, we are proud to celebrate Northfield Savings Bank and Casey Bailey as the 2025 Sapphire Award recipients. Northfield Savings Bank has long valued CFTEA as a trusted partner in employee growth. Under the care and leadership of Casey Bailey, a dedicated member of CFTEA’s Regional Advisory Council, that partnership continues to thrive. Casey’s professionalism, positivity, and integrity stand out. When

October 2025 Guided Learning Sale

October 21, 2025

Fall into savings! Take advantage of 10% off during the Guided Learning Sale. Applies to enrollments received October 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025. Explore All Guided Learning Classes https://cftea.org/courses/?filters=format/guided-learning ABA Analyzing Financial Statements Banking Today Business Math ABA Commercial Lending ABA Consumer Lending Deposit Accounts & Services Financial Accounting Frontline Fundamentals Fundamentals of Real Estate Appraisal General Accounting Human Relations Human Resource Management ABA Legal Foundations in Banking Loan Collectors Training Management ABA Marketing ABA Money and Banking ABA

Hear About CFTEA’s New Guided Learning Course?

October 20, 2025

LinkedIn Learning has its place. Quick micro-videos are fine if you need to figure out how to add a filter in Excel or troubleshoot your webcam before a meeting. But when it comes to leadership, the kind that lasts, you need more than snack-sized tips. Enter The Leadership Experience — CFTEA’s brand-new 3~credit Guided Learning course packed with nearly 250 real-world case studies. This isn’t theory from 20 years ago, it’s what leadership looks like in today’s world: messy, fast

Building the Future (and Earning a Few C Bucks Along the Way)

October 16, 2025

Ever wonder what really happens at the CFTEA Leaders Conference? Think laughter, lightbulb moments, and just enough friendly competition to make those C Bucks fly. (CFTEA’s official conference currency and a direct cause of some spirited bidding wars). One of this year’s standout sessions came from Meghan Crider, President of Educational Programs at Virginia National Bank (VNB). Her session, Leveraging CFTEA Credits for Recruitment and Employee Development, flipped the usual hiring story on its head. VNB looked at the long

Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership: Melissa Greene

October 15, 2025

At the 2025 CFTEA Leaders Conference, we had the honor of recognizing Melissa Greene from Union Bank with the CFTEA Leaving a Legacy Award for her many years of dedicated service and leadership. Melissa’s steady hand, thoughtful insight, and genuine care have shaped so much of who we are today. Her work has left a lasting impression on our board, our students, and our community. And while Melissa may have passed the board member torch, she has not gone far!