125 North Fulton St. Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 273-4611
Toll Free: (877) 273-AFCU      E-mail

Internships

Internships
Alternatives has several exciting internship opportunities available, offering projects that are non-trivial and self-contained. If chosen for an internship, you will be assigned a Staff Mentor who will offer training and guidance for the project, and you will be rewarded with valuable, practical experience and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Our program offers a mixture of working and learning, of technical and social skills. We aim to teach breadth, flexibility, and adaptability.

Please note: Our internships are offered without monetary compensation.

Alternatives Credit Union is located approximately 250 miles (400 km) northwest of New York City.

If you would like to pursue an internship, please email Lenore Olmstead, HR@alternatives.org.

FREE TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM
See Free Tax Preparation Internship.

STUDENT CREDIT UNION
The Student Credit Union is a program to help young people learn financial education through credit union services. Alternatives has school branches at Ithaca High School, Lehman Alternative Community School, Boynton Middle School, Cayuga Heights Elementary School and Beverly J. Martin Elementary School. Student volunteers are trained as tellers and member service representatives to help their peers learn about saving and using financial products responsibly. An intern will work with the director of the program to oversee branch operations, create opportunities to expand membership and increase participation. This is a great opportunity to develop an innovative educational model in public schools.
Estimated Time Requirement: Variable

 

LOAN PROCEDURES MANUAL
Update the Credit Union's Loan Procedures Manual. The work is detailed, involves staff interviews about the application and decision-making process for consumer mortgage, business and credit card loans, and the development of a uniform and easy to understand manual to assist with new employee training. The intern must have basic knowledge of loan practices, have a business background, and be able to work independently. Computer skills are essential.
Estimated Time Requirement: 10 hours/week for one semester.

LOAN CLERK, OPERATIONS CLERK, DATA ENTRY CLERK, VISA CLERK
We offer continuing internships with more fundamental, non-project oriented tasks. For these interns we use Job Shadowing and Job Tryout models. These jobs concentrate on office procedures, work habits, corporate structure and develop employability skills. Duties include providing members with information about the Credit Union, handling member inquiries, transaction research, filing, photocopying, address changes, data entry, general office tasks. These tasks give a good sense of what it is like to work in a financial institution.
Estimated Time Requirement: Flexible based on skill level and availability

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Diane Hecht

While living in New Jersey in 1995, I decided to move to Ithaca to care for my elderly mother and to purchase a home here. My daughter set up appointments for me at Alternatives to discuss obtaining a mortgage and I remember her telling me not to dress up "NJ Style" as the small credit union on State Street in Ithaca was not like any bank I'd ever seen. She was so right! In the lobby dogs were barking and waiting for their snacks from the very casually dressed tellers, while babies were playing in areas provided by the Credit Union - that was the beginning of my love affair with Alternatives.

Over the past 13 years since offering me that first mortgage, as both Alternatives and I have grown and prospered, they have provided Home Equity loans to help me care for my mother, create my own small business, and this past spring to re-mortgage and pay off debts. The wonderful people in the Alternatives mortgage department offer amazing expertise in a very caring manner. Many thanks to all of you at Alternatives who offer your services for our community!


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