Treasurer Pieciak, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Join Department of Corrections in Financial Education Partnership
Montpelier, VT – On Wednesday, November 19, Treasurer Pieciak, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union, and the Department of Corrections announced a new partnership to provide financial education and banking services to incarcerated individuals preparing for reentry.
The initiative will help ensure returning citizens can achieve financial stability, supporting a more successful transition back into their communities and strengthening Vermont’s workforce and economy.
The program will initially be offered at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT. The first session took place Friday, November 14, 2025.
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union is leading the financial education workshops teaching money management, banking, and other essential skills to support reentry and reduce the risk of recidivism. Upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to open a bank account.
“We’re pleased that through this partnership, we can help provide support and encouragement for returning citizens,” states Bob Morgan, NorthCountry’s CEO. “By providing them with access to affordable financial services and financial education, we can help them plan a course of action that aligns with their individual lives, goals, and challenges, and helps them be successful as they return home.”
Treasurer Pieciak facilitated the partnership, supporting his office’s mission of expanding opportunities for financial education across the state.
“To grow our workforce and strengthen our economy, we need to give every Vermonter the opportunity to succeed,” said Treasurer Pieciak. “For folks leaving prison, the road to financial security is full of hurdles, but this program will help people overcome those barriers and build stable, successful lives. This is a benefit for them and for their communities. I want to thank the Department of Corrections and NorthCountry Federal Credit Union for their partnership.”
Nearly 2,500 individuals are released every year from Vermont’s prisons, with many lacking the skills and resources needed to achieve financial security. Reentering citizens often encounter significant barriers to basic financial services like a bank account.
A study by the American Bankers Association found that 29% of formerly incarcerated individuals lack access to a bank account, compared to the national average of 4.2%. Without access to banking services, many can find themselves in the same economic conditions that led to their incarceration. By delivering financial services directly through the State’s corrections system, the new partnership aims to tackle these challenges head-on.
Participants of the first course on November 14, 2025, were joined by Taylor Paul, CEO of The League for Safer Streets and Chris Willars, CEO of The Life Unit LLC , both returning citizens. According to Taylor Paul, “Financial literacy is a cornerstone of successful reentry and community safety. By bringing this education into correctional facilities, we’re investing in the stability of individuals, families, and neighborhoods. This partnership represents more than financial education, it’s a pathway toward accountability, self-sufficiency, and safer communities.”
Future media opportunities to cover the program can be arranged in coordination with the Treasurer’s Office and the Department of Corrections.
The initiative will help ensure returning citizens can achieve financial stability, supporting a more successful transition back into their communities and strengthening Vermont’s workforce and economy.
The program will initially be offered at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT. The first session took place Friday, November 14, 2025.
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union is leading the financial education workshops teaching money management, banking, and other essential skills to support reentry and reduce the risk of recidivism. Upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to open a bank account.
“We’re pleased that through this partnership, we can help provide support and encouragement for returning citizens,” states Bob Morgan, NorthCountry’s CEO. “By providing them with access to affordable financial services and financial education, we can help them plan a course of action that aligns with their individual lives, goals, and challenges, and helps them be successful as they return home.”
Treasurer Pieciak facilitated the partnership, supporting his office’s mission of expanding opportunities for financial education across the state.
“To grow our workforce and strengthen our economy, we need to give every Vermonter the opportunity to succeed,” said Treasurer Pieciak. “For folks leaving prison, the road to financial security is full of hurdles, but this program will help people overcome those barriers and build stable, successful lives. This is a benefit for them and for their communities. I want to thank the Department of Corrections and NorthCountry Federal Credit Union for their partnership.”
Nearly 2,500 individuals are released every year from Vermont’s prisons, with many lacking the skills and resources needed to achieve financial security. Reentering citizens often encounter significant barriers to basic financial services like a bank account.
A study by the American Bankers Association found that 29% of formerly incarcerated individuals lack access to a bank account, compared to the national average of 4.2%. Without access to banking services, many can find themselves in the same economic conditions that led to their incarceration. By delivering financial services directly through the State’s corrections system, the new partnership aims to tackle these challenges head-on.
Participants of the first course on November 14, 2025, were joined by Taylor Paul, CEO of The League for Safer Streets and Chris Willars, CEO of The Life Unit LLC , both returning citizens. According to Taylor Paul, “Financial literacy is a cornerstone of successful reentry and community safety. By bringing this education into correctional facilities, we’re investing in the stability of individuals, families, and neighborhoods. This partnership represents more than financial education, it’s a pathway toward accountability, self-sufficiency, and safer communities.”
Future media opportunities to cover the program can be arranged in coordination with the Treasurer’s Office and the Department of Corrections.