DUBLIN, Calif.–Patelco Credit Union and Genesys Works Bay Area said they have completed their third annual internship program, which is designed to prepare Bay Area high school students for the workplace and impart critical financial education.

According to the organizations, the ongoing partnership matches Patelco’s student internship program with GWBA’s workforce development initiatives to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities.

“We’re so pleased with our successful partnership with GWBA for youth financial literacy and workforce preparedness,” Melissa Morgan, chief delivery officer for Patelco and a lead architect of the community partnership, said in a statement. “Just as these young people are preparing to go out into the world, this program provides a solid financial understanding, paired with workplace experience and interpersonal skills that will help them on their post-high school journey, wherever it takes them.”
Real-World Work Experience

Genesys Works said its national program emphasizes real-world work experiences and regular interaction with workforce development coaches to help students explore and prepare for the professional world. Each year the organization said it partners with 245 corporate participants to offer over 2,000 internship opportunities nationwide. 

In the Bay Area, more than 775 students have participated in the program since launching in 2013. 

GWBA interns at Patelco work 20 hours per week building their skills in technology, member service, and banking processes in addition to their normal classwork in their senior year of high school, Genesys said. It added that this year’s class participated in a three-month youth financial and professional skills workshop series featuring in-branch job shadowing, a financial concepts and money management workshop, and resume development and practice interviews with real recruiters in a professional setting. 
Patelco has partnered with GWBA since 2021 and has worked with more than two-dozen students.

Alums See Success

Genesys Works reported that its alumni are 2.5 times more likely than their peers to receive a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree within six years. In the Bay Area, 82% of alumni are first-generation college students, and 85% enroll in college after completing their year-long internship. 

In comparison, 54 percent of low-income students enroll in college statewide within 12 months of graduation, according to data released in April from the Public Policy Institute of California, the organization said. 
Patelco CU will again be participating with students during the 2025-26 academic year.