Community Champion: Krystal Nunn
Community Champion Krystal Nunn feels deeply drawn to serving her community through financial empowerment, and she is now living out that purpose by expanding access to personal finance education across greater New Jersey. Through her high-profile role as Financial Wellness Leader at American Heritage Federal Credit Union (AHCU), Nunn demonstrates a commitment to service that reaches far beyond her professional responsibilities.
Krystal’s community involvement includes delivering workshops and keynote presentations on financial literacy for credit union members, youth, and corporate workplaces throughout New Jersey. Her particular focus is on reaching underserved communities, emphasizing confidence, adaptability, and emotional well-being as pillars of economic empowerment. Frequently recognized for her innovative approach and heart-centered leadership, Krystal Nunn is widely regarded as a trusted advocate for community growth and financial health.
Personal Statement
Learning how to make my money work for me has always been my mission in life. It’s partly why I decided to study finance at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University. I wanted to deepen my knowledge when it came to understanding the financial markets, systems, and solutions that power the globe. I wanted to demystify a subject that impacts our lives each and every day – from saving for a long-term goal to budgeting enough to manage weekly/bi-weekly paychecks. But beyond the idea of learning how to ‘make money work for me’ is my desire to empower others to do the same. This passion led me to accept a role at a credit union in northeast Philadelphia with their Business Development team. My role on the team is to lead financial wellness/education initiatives amongst our members, workplace partners, and surrounding community. Some of those initiatives include scheduling monthly financial webinars/seminars facilitated by our employees and partners. We also host Financial Reality Fairs at high schools within our footprint for juniors, where we give students a chance to manage their own budgets while making financial decisions.
After 14 years in corporate America – working as a Senior Financial Analyst, Project Manager, and various roles within Treasury Management including Payments Advisor – I wanted to shift my career. While in grad school at Rutgers School of Business in Camden, I wrote a business plan focusing on the mission to drive financial literacy amongst individuals. Throughout my professional and personal life, I’ve had a chance to see firsthand how education can open doors and prepare you for rewarding opportunities in life. The unfortunate part is that not everyone is afforded the same education. That’s why it has become my goal to focus on how more young adults can be provided with the proper building blocks when it comes to managing their money. I remember what it felt like to open my first account, get my first job where I was collecting a paycheck, buying my first car, and all the lessons that came with hitting these financial milestones. I learned early on how powerful building savings and investing can be for one’s financial future.
My first lesson in understanding the power of credit came from watching my mom navigate identity theft. The worst part was that it was a family member who was responsible. I watched the emotional and financial toll those actions took on my mother. A woman of integrity who worked all her life, to build a strong financial foundation for herself and me (her daughter). I watched the years it took her to fight to clear her name, to prove who she is when trying to apply for credit. After years of rebuilding through financial discipline and forgiveness, she’s been able to create a new life. However, the lessons not only stand with her; they were also shaped in me as I watched her on that journey. It taught me to regularly review my credit history, to understand what it reported, and ways to protect my identity. My curiosity grew as I got older as I wanted to understand money in a way that afforded me the freedom I desired. How do I get it, how do I grow it, and how do I keep it?
Somewhere I read that the average human makes 35,000 decisions a day. Now consider the number of those decisions that affect a person’s finances. You quickly realize how important it is to have a strong understanding when it comes to making these financial decisions. It’s the reason why I am involved in the financial wellness movement in New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania. We recently expanded our presence in the state of New Jersey through an acquisition. What better way to show support than by helping to lead the efforts of bringing financial wellness to our members, community, and workplace partnerships.
Community Champion: Krystal Nunn
Krystal Nunn has long been a dedicated advocate for financial literacy, devoting years to educating others and lending her expertise as a member of the New Jersey Financial Educators Council Advisory Board. Her steady leadership and deep commitment to uplifting those around her have made a lasting impression throughout the community.
Through her guidance, Krystal has united people from diverse backgrounds around a shared mission: strengthening and improve the New Jersey communities we call home. She exemplifies the power of collaboration and has motivated others to take an active role in service and advocacy. The New Jersey Council extends its sincere appreciation to Krystal for her vision, perseverance, and continued dedication.
Learn More About Krystal Nunn
Krystal Nunn at American Heritage Credit Union Events