WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –– On the morning of June 24, summer school was about more than reading, writing and arithmetic for students at Greater Lafayette area high schools.

Students at Lafayette Jefferson, William Henry Harrison, and McCutcheon high schools received a visit from Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) President and CEO Bob Falk and New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees. The visit included a presentation about Visa’s Financial Football program, an interactive money management game designed to teach students important money management skills.

PEFCU President and CEO Bob Falk, and New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees talk to Lafayette Jefferson High School students about financial responsibility.

“Today’s event is a very important program – one that I wish I had been exposed to when I was your age,” said Brees. “Not enough kids leave high school with the right knowledge to manage their finances and today’s kids have even more responsibilities at a younger age than I did.”

PEFCU believes the best way to tackle today’s economic crisis and to defend against future challenges is by arming students with knowledge and skills to successfully manage their finances. Through Financial Football students learn about assets and liabilities, savings and interest, advantages and disadvantages of credit and debit cards, and how to create a budget or spending plan.

“Whether these students join the workforce or attend college after high school graduation, their success depends upon their ability to manage their finances,” said Bob Falk, PEFCU president and CEO. “At PEFCU, we’re committed to helping our youth reach their potential.”

PEFCU works with local schools and organizations to teach money management skills to area youth throughout the year. For more information about ways PEFCU can help your organization or school meet its financial literacy goals, please contact Kristy Robb at 765.497.7442.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) has announced the promotion of Nikki Gaylord to vice president of lending.

Nikki Gaylord, Vice President Lending

“In her previous role as assistant vice president of lending, Nikki has mentored and coached her staff on ways to best serve our members,” said Bob Falk, president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to her taking a more active role in the development of our long-term lending strategy.”

Gaylord is a graduate of Leadership Lafayette Career Leadership Academy and Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Management School. She joined PEFCU in 1995 and will use her total of 18 years of lending experience to guide the mortgage and consumer lending teams. Under her guidance is an array of mortgage and consumer loan products including first mortgages, home equity loans, vehicle loans, credit cards and secured loans. She is also involved in the development of a new loan product set to launch in 2009 that will supplement federal educational funding provided to Purdue students and their parents when federal funds don’t cover all their expenses.

PEFCU remains one of the few local financial institutions to offer local servicing for the life of every mortgage.