Grants Awarded to Promote Personal Money Management for College Students

[New Haven, CT– April 10, 2012] – Higher One, a technology and payment services company focused on higher education, has announced its second annual Financial Literacy Counts grant program designed to support financial literacy initiatives for undergraduate students nationwide. This announcement comes during the month of April, recognized by Congress as Financial Literacy Month, and is an example of Higher One’s continued mission to support financial literacy among college students by providing resources and promoting financial literacy initiatives on college campuses.

Grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 are available to all accredited U.S. non-profit colleges and universities. Grant funds may be used to support student awareness campaigns, workshops, online financial literacy tools and other activities and resources that promote financial literacy and provide opportunities for students to increase their personal financial management skills and abilities.
 
“At the core of our beliefs is that an educated consumer makes good decisions and that students can be financially responsible when provided the right education and tools,” explained Mary Johnson, Financial Literacy and Consumer Advocacy Manager at Higher One. “Last year, we helped get financial literacy programs off the ground on several campuses and our aim this year is to continue to help administrators establish financial education as a best practice for undergraduates.”

The deadline for submission is Friday, May 18th, 2012. Full application guidelines are available at HigherOne.com. Applicants, in addition to meeting other criteria, must participate with an institutionally recognized student organization that is involved in planned financial literacy efforts on campus. Proposed programs must be implemented between August 1, 2012 and November 30, 2012.

Higher One Solidifies Partnership with Third Banking Partner

[New Haven, CT – April 3, 2012] Higher One, a technology and payment services company focused on higher education, announces that it has entered into an agreement with Cole Taylor Bank , a Chicago-based commercial bank with over $4.6 billion in total assets. Under the Agreement, Cole Taylor Bank will be the depository financial institution for a portion of Higher One’s customer accounts.  Higher One will continue to administer the deposit accounts, providing customer services and other functions such as processing and technology-related aspects of the accounts.

“This latest agreement further supports our diversified bank partner strategy,” said Miles Lasater, co-founder and COO at Higher One. “We are pleased to add the additional capacity that Cole Taylor Bank brings to our bank partner network which fortifies our operational strategy.”

Higher One Celebrates Twelve Years in New Haven with Ceremony for its New National Headquarters

[New Haven, CT – March 21, 2012] – Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Higher One’s new corporate headquarters on Tuesday, which also marked the twelfth anniversary for the company. Higher One is a leading financial services provider for colleges and universities around the nation. The company was founded by three Yale students who developed their idea while undergraduates at the university in 2000, moved to Science Park in 2004 with 24 employees, and greatly expanded this January with a new headquarters for 240 employees at a historical New Haven landmark.

“As a state we are reshaping our economic efforts and moving in our own direction to attract new employers and to fund new ideas. I’m happy the state of Connecticut saw the wisdom in making the investments alongside our partner Higher One to rebuild this great building and mark a new history for New Haven,” Governor Dannel P. Malloy said.

The company, along with Winstanley Enterprises, Forest City Residential Group, and Science Park Development Corporation rehabilitated two vacant buildings at the former Winchester Arms Factory site. The adaptive reuse space reinvents two buildings dating back to 1915 and adheres to National Park Service guidelines for additions to historic structures. The exteriors have been restored to their original condition and the interior design also maintains iconic historical components. As the anchor tenant, Higher One aims to set an example and encourage continued investment in the former industrial property to attract and increase the retention of talent in Connecticut.

“This building is a testament to the importance of entrepreneurialism—what people with imagination and creativity can accomplish,” remarked New Haven Mayor John DeStefano. “Higher One is an example of how New Haven still makes things, but it makes things with powerful ideas.”

“This building is a monument to teamwork and a monument to optimism. We believe the future is bright for both Higher One and for this location,” remarked Miles Lasater, Chief Operations Officer of Higher One, who founded the company along with Mark Volchek, Chief Financial Officer. “Silicon Valley wasn’t built in a day. We hold many of the pieces needed to construct an even more vibrant economy here. If we can overcome the perceptions, we will create an environment that welcomes true economic development in New Haven and the state.”