Northern Michigan University Launches On-Campus Financial Commons in Partnership with Collegiate and AlumniFi

Collegiate, AlumniFi, and Northern Michigan University celebrated the official opening of the Collegiate + AlumniFi Financial Commons in the Northern Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on campus. The event brought together Collegiate/AlumniFi and NMU leadership, alumni, community partners, board members, and team members to commemorate this milestone partnership and celebrate a shared investment in student financial wellness and lifelong alumni engagement.
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Powered by MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Collegiate and AlumniFi were created to deliver tailored financial experiences that meet people where they are in life. The new Financial Commons at NMU bridges digital innovation with physical space, offering Wildcats a hybrid model featuring high-tech digital platforms alongside personalized, in-person financial guidance. Complementing this on-campus presence, the university will also introduce three fee-free ATMs across campus, along with access to a network of more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.

“We are committed to helping students, faculty, and staff navigate life’s most important financial decisions with trusted guidance and personalized support,” said April Clobes, President and CEO of Collegiate, AlumniFi, and MSUFCU. “The Collegiate + AlumniFi Financial Commons at Northern Michigan University will provide a welcoming space where students can build strong financial foundations, and alumni can access the resources and tools they need to achieve their goals while staying connected to their alma mater.”

The Financial Commons serves as an interactive center for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader university community to access specialized financial wellness resources, modern banking features, and targeted educational programming.

• Collegiate Student Banking: Designed specifically for student life, offering mobile-first digital checking and dividend-earning savings accounts with no monthly fees. Features real-time spending insights, customizable savings goals, and accessible financial education designed to build lifelong money management habits.
• AlumniFi Post-Grad Financial Platform: Built for graduating seniors and alumni navigating post-college life, as well as faculty, staff, and the broader university community. Offers high-yield savings accounts, smart automation tools to reduce student loan balances faster, debt repayment rewards, and financial wellness tools like FinLife™.
• On-Site Financial Guidance and Technology: Features video tellers, a technology bar for mobile account management, and private office spaces for scheduled, one-on-one meetings with financial wellness experts.
• Financial Literacy and Educational Workshops: Offers ongoing virtual and in-person education covering key financial milestones, including budgeting, responsible credit usage, first-time homebuying, and account security.

“At NMU, we are dedicated to providing our students with comprehensive resources that prepare them for long-term success both inside and outside the classroom,” said Chris Olsen, President of NMU. “This partnership with Collegiate and AlumniFi introduces a valuable asset to our campus. The Financial Commons equips our students with essential money management tools for their college years and gives our alumni a lasting connection to the university community.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured formal remarks from NMU and Collegiate/AlumniFi leadership, followed by attendees moving over to Fall Fest, to welcome students, faculty, and staff to campus.

Collegiate and AlumniFi are available now to the NMU community. Visit collegiatecu.org/nmu or alumnifi.org/nmu to learn more and open an account in just a few minutes.

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