CFTEA - Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance

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What if you could walk into your first board meeting already knowing how it all works?That's what the CFTEA Board Leader...
10/15/2026

What if you could walk into your first board meeting already knowing how it all works?

That's what the CFTEA Board Leadership Launchpad Program is built for, and on the second day of our Leaders Conference in Concord, we got to celebrate the very first cohort to complete it.

Claire Bundy (TowneBank), Michelle Dole (Claremont Savings Bank), and Jessi Diamond (Androscoggin Bank) were our test pilot group, running the full year-long version of the program and helping shape what it becomes next. They spent it doing the real thing: sitting in on board meetings, joining committee work, reviewing financials, and learning how nonprofit boards actually operate. All three earned CFTEA's Non-Profit Management and Board Readiness Certificate.

At the conference, they shared how the experience prepared them for board service, then presented a full SWOT analysis straight to the CFTEA Board of Directors, answering questions and sharing what they'll carry forward. That's not a classroom exercise. That's standing up in front of a real board and delivering, and they did it well.

Young professionals are rarely shown how to step into leadership like this. These three now have, and they're ready.

Congratulations, Claire, Michelle, and Jessi. We're proud of you.

Here's what's next: the program is now an eight-month experience, and nominations for the next cohort open December 1, with the session running February through September 2027. Know someone who belongs in that room? This is your chance to show them the way.

Learn more: https://cftea.org/product/board-leadership-launchpad-program/

On a Friday afternoon more than fifty years ago, a man walked out of a bank with $215,000 in a paper bag. Nobody noticed...
10/15/2026

On a Friday afternoon more than fifty years ago, a man walked out of a bank with $215,000 in a paper bag. Nobody noticed until Monday.

He wasn't a mastermind. He didn't crack a safe. He just had access, and no one checking behind him. That's the whole story, and it's exactly why it still matters.

Today we call the fix dual control. The second set of eyes. It's easy to read a procedure like that as the institution not trusting you. It's the opposite. Every one exists because somewhere, a real person had a bad day and nothing was there to catch it. The procedure isn't distrust. It's so no one carries a bad day alone.

That's what our new series is about. The Vault is a six-part true-crime series from CFTEA, each episode traces the above real case back to the procedure that would have changed the ending.

Episode 1 is live today. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and if you train new hires, it's a good one to share on day one.

Please help us welcome Kristine McAllister to the CFTEA Community Advisory Council! 🎉Kristine is a Learning and Developm...
10/14/2026

Please help us welcome Kristine McAllister to the CFTEA Community Advisory Council! 🎉

Kristine is a Learning and Development Specialist at Mascoma Bank, where she spends her days helping employees learn, grow, and find their footing in their careers. That’s the heart of what CFTEA is all about, so we couldn’t be more glad to have her in the room.

When we asked what she’d say to every early-career professional in financial services, her answer stuck with us:

“Stay curious, continue learning, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The willingness to learn will take you far.”

Outside of work, Kristine’s time goes to the people and animals she loves most: her husband, her son, and, in her words, all of their animals. ❤️

Welcome aboard, Kristine. We’re better with you in the room. Drop a note below and help us welcome her! 👇

Some stories are best told by the people who lived them.On the first afternoon of the CFTEA Leaders Conference in Concor...
10/14/2026

Some stories are best told by the people who lived them.

On the first afternoon of the CFTEA Leaders Conference in Concord, we handed the microphone to the women who have led our Board of Directors through some of the hardest years in CFTEA's history: a leadership transition, a pandemic, political pressures, and the retirement of longtime champions. Through all of it, CFTEA kept growing, thanks to leaders like these.

Our Past Board Presidents Panel brought together:

Margaret Collamorecampbell, Northway Bank (2015–2017)
Wanda Clough, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust (2017–2019)
Jane Clark, Community National Bank, VT (2019–2021)
Marcia Benner, First National Bank (2022–2024)
Nancy Birtwell Hines, Financial Training Consultant (2024–2026)

Four joined us in person: Margaret, Wanda, Marcia, and Nancy. Jane was all set to be there, but the flu kept her home at the last minute. We missed her, and the good news is you'll still get to hear from her.

All five past presidents will be featured in our podcast, The KEY to Your Next Step, in March 2027 during Women in Banking month, with Jane's reflections added in.

To anyone wondering whether leadership like this is for you: listen to these five. Their story might be the nudge you've been waiting for.

The real measure of a cybersecurity course isn't what you can recite afterward. It's how you feel walking back to your d...
10/14/2026

The real measure of a cybersecurity course isn't what you can recite afterward. It's how you feel walking back to your desk. Ready, or still guessing.

This week we're spotlighting people who finished CFTEA's Certificate in Cybersecurity.

One recent graduate: "This course was insightful and practical. It deepened my understanding of data security, and the real-world examples brought it to life. I'm confident it will positively shape my professional decisions going forward."

Another, more simply: "This training is valuable for every employee. It gives you the knowledge to protect your work environment from a potential attacker."

Cybersecurity can sound like it belongs to specialists. It doesn't. Every employee is part of what keeps an organization safe, and the ones who feel equipped are the ones who catch what others miss. It also carries PDU, HRCI, SHRM, and CEU recertification credit, so the time counts toward credentials your team already maintains.

Ready to give your team that confidence? Explore the Certificate in Cybersecurity at https://cftea.org/product/certificate-in-cybersecurity/

A board is only as strong as the people willing to serve on it. This year, we got to tell six of ours exactly what their...
10/13/2026

A board is only as strong as the people willing to serve on it. This year, we got to tell six of ours exactly what their service has meant.

At the 2026 CFTEA Leaders Conference in Concord, we presented the Leaving a Legacy Award to six members of our Board of Directors. Some are wrapping up their service, others have years still ahead, and every one of them has shaped CFTEA in a lasting way.

With deep appreciation, we recognized:

Chrissy Askren, Claremont Savings Bank
Judy Folsom, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
Nancy Hines, Independent Consultant
Nicole Haggerty, Androscoggin Bank
Casey Dillingham, Mascoma Bank
Pete Joslin, HRCU

We shared each of their stories over the past few weeks. Together, they tell you what CFTEA really is: an organization built by people who give their time, their knowledge, and their heart so others can grow.

To all six, thank you. Your legacy lives in the work, and in the people you've helped along the way.

Nobody wakes up planning to earn a banking diploma. They take one course, and the path opens.The Spring 2027 CFTEA catal...
10/13/2026

Nobody wakes up planning to earn a banking diploma. They take one course, and the path opens.

The Spring 2027 CFTEA catalog is out today.

The idea on the cover says it best: they started with one. One course can become a certificate, a certification, a diploma, even a banking degree. But hardly anyone plans all of that on day one. They take the first course, find out they're capable of more than they thought, and the next step stops feeling so far away.

You don't have to see the finish line to take the first step. You just have to start where you are.

There's a lot new inside this edition, and we'll share the highlights over the next few weeks. For now, it's live and worth a look, whether you're planning your own next step or building a path for your team.

Explore it athttps://cftea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CFTEA-Spring-2027-Catalog_Website.pdf

Some of the most important work happens quietly, behind the scenes. That's Casey Dillingham.At the CFTEA Leaders Confere...
10/12/2026

Some of the most important work happens quietly, behind the scenes. That's Casey Dillingham.

At the CFTEA Leaders Conference in Concord, we presented a Leaving a Legacy Award to board member Casey Dillingham of Mascoma Bank. Casey joined the board in 2023 and serves through June 30, 2027, so she's not going anywhere yet. We just wanted to recognize everything she's given while we had the chance.

Andrew Lederer remembers her from his own years on the board, when Casey made sure class locations and communication came together so employees could show up to a live class and focus on learning. That same care shows up today in the strong relationship between CFTEA and Mascoma Bank that Casey helps keep strong.

In Andrew's words:

"Casey is one of those support people from when I was a board member. She made sure class locations and communication happened in a way that supported CFTEA and the employees attending a live class. I can honestly tell that Casey has kept her heart and mind with CFTEA. I wish her all the best in her new adventures. It is with great appreciation that I was able to learn from her during her time on the board."

Thank you, Casey, for all the steady work that helps so many people grow, and for keeping that CFTEA and Mascoma connection strong.

Pictured: CFTEA board member Casey Dillingham of Mascoma Bank holds her engraved Leaving a Legacy Award, standing with Executive Director Andrew Lederer

I came into banking from manufacturing. I had never worked directly with the public a day in my life.The first thing I n...
10/09/2026

I came into banking from manufacturing. I had never worked directly with the public a day in my life.

The first thing I noticed wasn't the customers. It was the checking. Count the cash. Count it again. Count it a third time. Dual control for things that seemed like nothing. At first it felt like busywork, one more step built to slow me down.

Then you step into the deep end with real people and real money, and you see how much can go wrong. Not because anyone means for it to, but because a branch is a lot of moving parts, and you are one of them.

That's when the checking stopped looking like busywork. The second count wasn't doubting me. It was protecting me, and my coworkers, and the customers who trusted us to get it right.

Here's what I carry from it. A good procedure isn't the institution saying it doesn't trust you. It's the institution saying it won't let you carry a bad day alone.

There's a story I keep coming back to about exactly that. I'll share it next week.

Every organization has that one person who volunteers for the hard jobs, the ones nobody else wants. For CFTEA, that's P...
10/09/2026

Every organization has that one person who volunteers for the hard jobs, the ones nobody else wants. For CFTEA, that's Pete Joslin.

At the CFTEA Leaders Conference in Concord, we presented a Leaving a Legacy Award to board member Pete Joslin of HRCU. Pete joined the board in 2022 and serves through 2029, so he's got plenty of time left to keep making an impact. We just wanted to make sure his contributions got the recognition they've earned.

And there's a lot to recognize. Pete has served as chair of the Education Committee, chair of the Communication Committee, and VP of Finance, stepping in wherever CFTEA needed him most. He doesn't chase titles. He shows up where the work is.

In Andrew's words:

"Pete is one to always volunteer and usually for jobs that no one else wants. He tackles the big challenges and rallies the troops to complete some truly inspiring things. That energy was clearly felt on the Executive Committee in all his various roles over the years, serving where he was truly needed. I look forward to continuing to work with Pete over the next few years as he instills it in others. I sincerely appreciate the support and friendship that Pete has provided in making CFTEA a success."

Thank you, Pete, for taking on the tough work and bringing everyone along with you. We're glad you're with us for years to come.

Pictured: CFTEA board member Pete Joslin of HRCU holds his engraved Leaving a Legacy Award, standing with Executive Director Andrew Lederer.

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Springvale, ME
04083

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Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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+18883663242

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