News | CFTEA | Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance

Learning, Leading, and Giving Back: My Full-Circle Journey with CFTEA by Board Member, Judy Folsom

April 30, 2025

My journey with CFTEA spans many years and has been crucial to shaping my banking career. Early on, I recognized that continuous education is vital to success in this industry—a belief my parents reinforced by encouraging me never to turn down a chance to learn, especially when supported by my employer. Throughout my career, I’ve taken countless CFTEA courses, far too many to list. Some of the most impactful include Principles of Banking, Written Communications, and the Certificate in Leadership

Confused about upcoming Medicare options for you or a family member?

April 29, 2025

You’re not alone! With TV ads, mailers, and advice from all directions, knowing where to turn can feel overwhelming. But your health and financial needs are unique—so your plan should be too! Join Melissa from Longevity Planning for this free virtual class, where she’ll provide expert tools to help you: ✅ Understand Medicare options and how they impact your finances ✅ Make informed decisions based on your unique health and financial needs ✅ Prepare for aging in the workplace with

Want to move up in your career—and feel confident doing it?

April 28, 2025

CFTEA offers certifications, certificates, and diplomas that are nationally recognized and designed to help you grow with purpose. These aren’t cookie-cutter programs. Each one is built around real-world skills that actually matter in your day-to-day work. Behind the scenes, our Education Committee reviews every program and carefully selects the best courses from trusted partners—so you get meaningful, career-building content (not just busy work). Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up, CFTEA gives you the tools and recognition

From Feedback to Action—Fast: How CFTEA Turns Ideas Into Impact

April 25, 2025

At CFTEA, feedback isn’t just heard—it’s acted on. Fast. Executive Director Andrew Lederer is known for his lightning-fast response to course feedback and requests. When new articles, case studies, audio, or video become available, self-paced courses are updated immediately to give learners the best possible experience. Recently, an organization reached out with a request for a topic that no CFTEA partner had available. Instead of saying “sorry,” Andrew rolled up his sleeves and created something new from the ground up—pulling

Growing, Giving Back, and Grateful: Julie’s CFTEA Story

April 23, 2025

I started my banking career at TowneBank at the age of 25, a few years out of college. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into or that I’d love it and would be celebrating my 20th year in banking this summer. I started my college journey thinking I wanted to be an educator. I ended up with a business degree, but I am now in Learning & Development at TowneBank, so it really did work out that I’m an

Success Story in Action!

April 22, 2025

We’re thrilled to share that just days after the Portland Adult Education Teller Graduation, one of the talented graduates was hired by Skowhegan Savings Bank! This event wasn’t just a celebration—it was the culmination of 255 hours of hands-on training including CFTEA’s updated Frontline Fundamentals course, designed to launch careers in community banking. From classroom learning to real-world opportunities, this program is making a powerful impact—and we’re just getting started.

Proactive, Not Reactive: CFTEA’s Commitment to Meaningful Service

April 18, 2025

At CFTEA, we believe in more than just processing enrollments—we’re committed to proactively serving our community. Tammy, a dedicated member of our team, exemplifies this commitment by going the extra mile to ensure both organizations and individuals maximize their savings without compromising on quality. Recently, Tammy reviewed an enrollment for two courses and noticed an opportunity: Instructor-Led Online Course: She identified that the same content and experience were available through CFTEA’s Guided Learning at a lower cost. Plus, with a

CFTEA Council Spotlight: Jenn Plourde

April 16, 2025

CFTEA Council Spotlight: Jenn Plourde Employee Development Manager Saco & Biddeford Savings We are excited to announce that Jenn Plourde from Saco & Biddeford Savings (SBSI) has joined the CFTEA Regional Advisory Council! Jenn is a strong advocate for continued education and is dedicated to fostering the growth of her colleagues. The partnership between SBSI and CFTEA offers unique benefits. Jenn appreciates that CFTEA is a community-focused non-profit, aligning perfectly with SBSI’s mission as a mutual savings bank serving the

Not All “Principles of Banking” Courses Are Created Equal!

April 15, 2025

What if what you’re paying for isn’t really what you think? In the marketplace, a name can sell a course—but is it truly worth the price? The Facts: ⚡ A Principles of Banking course is being sold for $499—but it’s not even a 3-credit course! ⚡ The content actually matches CFTEA’s Banking Today course—which costs just $299! ⚡ That’s over 50% in savings for the same material with CFTEA’s outstanding learning experience! Your Smarter Banking Career Path Starts Here ✅

Elevate Your Career with CFTEA’s Certified Artificial Intelligence (AI) Practitioner (CAIP) Course!

April 14, 2025

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are revolutionizing industries worldwide. Stay ahead of the curve by mastering these transformative technologies with CFTEA’s Certified Artificial Intelligence (AI) Practitioner (CAIP) course. Get the same high-quality training at nearly half the cost of similar programs elsewhere! Why Enroll? Hands-On Learning: Engage in practical activities that teach you to apply AI and ML algorithms to real-world business challenges. Comprehensive Curriculum: From data collection and model training to building various models like linear regression, classification, clustering,