UMass Lowell, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union to launch student-led business

LOWELL, MA (November 5, 2026) – A student-run credit union planned by UMass Lowell and Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union (JDCU) will expand financial services to the campus community while creating career-connected experiential learning opportunities for students to build, manage and lead a financial sector business.

Plans for the River Hawk Credit Union Powered by Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union were formalized through a partnership agreement signed last month. Students participating in the venture will be mentored by Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union professionals who will oversee the campus credit union providing experience, not just as interns, but in leadership roles that are required to run a fully functional credit union on campus. The endeavor is the first of its type on a college campus in Massachusetts and one of just a handful across the country.

“Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union has been a longtime and deeply valued partner of UMass Lowell, and we are grateful for its sustained investment in our students and our community,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen. “This initiative represents an exciting next chapter in our relationship, bringing JDCU’s expertise and commitment to financial well-being directly to campus while giving students opportunities to learn, lead and prepare for successful careers.”

Students will hold leadership and staff positions in the branch as Jeanne D’Arc employees will train them in building a financial institution from the ground up, as well as topics such as financial literacy, budgeting, saving, sound use of credit and fraud prevention, among other related topics. River Hawk Credit Union employees will then have opportunities to share their knowledge across campus. Eligible students and faculty may choose to open deposit accounts and apply for credit cards or loans, while the partners also envision creating a “UML/River Hawk” branded debit card.

“This program puts students in real life career situations. They’ll make real decisions, serve real members, and help classmates build smart money habits,” said JDCU President and CEO Larissa C. Thurston. “Our long-standing partnership with UMass Lowell helps us to put the credit union idea of people helping people in the hands of the next generation of leaders. We can’t wait to see what the students build.”

A joint advisory committee comprised of UMass Lowell faculty and staff, JDCU representatives and UMass Lowell students will guide the initiative.

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Founded in 1912 as a cooperative for Lowell’s French-Canadian mill workers and their families, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union today serves more than 100,000 members and holds more than $2.2 billion in assets. The membership-owned nonprofit financial services institution operates eight full-service branches, additional centers dedicated to lending and mortgage services and three high school branches throughout the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire.