With a confetti cannon and a giant pair of scissors, the new Gesa Credit Union branch at Stadium High School is officially open. This is the second Gesa branch located in a Tacoma Public School; the first at Mount Tahoma opened in 2024.

The partnership between TPS and Gesa has two components: the physical credit union branches staffed by students, and an affinity debit card program open to all students, staff, parents, and the community. 

Bringing banking to students

The Stadium credit union branch is part of Gesa’s High School Credit Union Program, which works with schools across Washington. The program aims to give students access to banking and provide job opportunities for students to work in the branch.

“I truly value this access for our students,” said Stadium Principal Shannon Marshall. “Caitlin Back, our CTE teacher, brings a professional banking background, and I worked at Washington Mutual during college and for several years into my teaching career. I believe that familiarity with—and access to—financial institutions is essential for our students’ long-term success.”

Any student at Stadium High School can now visit the branch and open a Gesa checking or savings account, as well as manage transactions, such as deposits and withdrawals, during designated hours of the school day.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Tacoma Public Schools to open the new Stadium High School branch," said Brandon Allison, Assistant Vice President of Community Impact at Gesa Credit Union. “Every time I meet with students, I’m blown away by their curiosity, drive, and how they grow as leaders. They bring fresh ideas, support one another, and take real ownership of this program. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how this experience helps them turn what they learn in the classroom into career-ready skills.”

In Washington state, kids over the age of 14 can open bank accounts without parental permission. However, for TPS and Gesa, parental involvement is an important component. Both Stadium and Mount Tahoma branches have materials for students to take home and discuss with their families. Additionally, Gesa has provided materials at Foss, Lincoln, and Silas High Schools.

High School branded debit cards 

The Gesa Affinity Debit Card Program allows TPS to offer district and school-branded debit cards. When Gesa account holders use an Affinity Debit Card linked to our district for their everyday purchases, each card swipe delivers a donation to our schools at no cost to the card user.

TPS is starting with branded cards for our five comprehensive high schools and a TPS card. Depending on response and demand, additional card designs may be added.

Learn more