SECU is the title sponsor of MCEE’s annual Educator Summit in June, and we are grateful for the credit union’s ongoing and unwavering support.
SECU (pronounced "see-Q") was founded in October 1951 in Baltimore as the State Employees Credit Union of Maryland. Now, as Maryland’s largest state-chartered credit union, SECU operates as a full-service financial institution with branches throughout Maryland offering a complete portfolio of personal and business banking services including investment and planning by way of SECU Financial Partners.
SECU’s nonprofit arm, the SECU MD Foundation aims to create a stronger Maryland by empowering access to education, supporting health and wellness, and serving as a catalyst for community development through its annual scholarship program, community impact grants, annual Kindness campaign and other initiatives and partnerships.
SECU has over 250,000 members via 21 Financial Centers across the state.
We spoke with Amy Basta, SECU’s SVP, Chief Marketing Officer, about why supporting financial education in Maryland is so important.
How does supporting MCEE align with SECU’s mission and goals?
We operate with the core credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” This ethos drives our commitment to being a trusted resource for financial education, wellness, and helping individuals reach their goals. We believe that building strong financial habits starts early—and that a solid foundation is essential to long-term financial well-being.
How does supporting MCEE align with SECU’s mission and goals?
We operate with the core credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” This ethos drives our commitment to being a trusted resource for financial education, wellness, and helping individuals reach their goals. We believe that building strong financial habits starts early—and that a solid foundation is essential to long-term financial well-being.
How does supporting MCEE align with SECU’s mission and goals?
We operate with the core credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” This ethos drives our commitment to being a trusted resource for financial education, wellness, and helping individuals reach their goals. We believe that building strong financial habits starts early—and that a solid foundation is essential to long-term financial well-being.
How does supporting MCEE help you fulfill that commitment?
SECU supports MCEE as a natural extension of its existing work to support Marylanders in their journeys to financial wellness, at every age and every stage of life. SECU recognizes that there is a gap that exists in our current education landscape, and supports MCEE’s work to make holistic financial literacy programming a key component of K-12 education statewide.
Our financial wellness strategy includes a range of initiatives—from supporting workshops on University System of Maryland campuses, to hosting gamified financial literacy events in local elementary schools, and launching our partnership with the Greenlight app and debit card for youth. Supporting MCEE allows us to deepen our impact alongside an organization equally dedicated to empowering students and educators with essential financial knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
How do SECU members benefit from your financial education initiatives and support?
Talking about money can be difficult, and for many adults, not having a formal financial education themselves, teaching healthy habits to their children and the next generation can be daunting! Supporting MCEE is one way we can help bridge that gap – providing the resources and interactive tools and programs to engage with young adults, but also give parents, teachers and educators the means to have these conversations early and often.
How does SECU connect with MCEE and its programs?
SECU is proud to sponsor the 2025 SECU Maryland Financial and Economic Educator Summit because we believe that supporting educators is key to fostering financially confident communities. This event equips Maryland teachers with the tools and resources needed to bring personal finance and economics into the classroom.
Beyond the Summit, SECU partners with MCEE year-round to advance financial wellness through initiatives like the Before the Bell advocacy breakfast, Board support, sponsoring the Financial Education and Capability Awards, and supporting other programs that impact teachers and students throughout Maryland—all of which reflect our shared commitment to empowering the next generation of financially healthy Marylanders.
Find the SECU website at https://www.secumd.org/
