Angela Barlup
Financial Education Program Manager at Belco Community Credit Union
Angela Barlup is the Financial Education Program Manager for Belco Community Credit Union in Harrisburg. Angela has been instrumental in developing and conducting financial education programs at local schools, non-profit organizations, and community groups. She is a passionate advocate for financial literacy and empowering others through education. She coordinates Financial Reality Fair programs for Belco across local school districts, and alternative education youth organizations, helping students build budgeting skills and financial confidence. Angela has also served as a mentor through the student-run Bulldog Branch at Big Spring High School, guiding student interns and fostering hands-on learning experiences in financial services. She has worked to expand Belco’s financial education efforts, resulting in Belco winning three Leaders in Financial Literacy awards from the CrossState Credit Union Foundation.
Angela is a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. She is a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) and has completed a Project Management Certificate program through Temple University. She serves on the board of the Perry County Literacy Council and serves on several guidance and occupational advisory boards at local school districts. She serves on the Business in Education Committee at the Carlisle Chamber.
What issue or need in our community motivates you most, and why?
What motivates me most is the increasing financial stress within our community. Having experienced job loss and a five-year cancer battle, I understand how unexpected events can quickly create financial hardship. These experiences strengthened my commitment to helping others build financial confidence and prepare for life’s uncertainties. My focus is helping individuals and families create plans that fit their own circumstances. I’m especially motivated to work with children and teens. Many adults were never given the tools to manage money confidently, so by teaching young people early, we also reach their families and help build a stronger foundation for long term success and financial independence.
Can you share a moment when you realized your work was making a real difference?
It’s difficult to point to just one moment, because the impact of my work is reinforced repeatedly through the response to financial education programs like Financial Reality Fairs. Each time I complete a program, the reactions from students, their engagement, questions, and reflections, remind me why this work matters. I have a collection of thank-you notes and cards from participants expressing appreciation. I look at these to remind myself of the impact and how meaningful my work is. One of the most significant moments for me was after delivering a program for Juvenile Justice Services. The students were especially appreciative that someone had invested time in providing them with practical financial education and treated them with respect and encouragement.
What gives you hope about the future of our community or the world?
What gives me hope is the growing recognition that personal finance is an essential life skill. Seeing financial education become a required class means students are being introduced early to wants vs needs, money management, budgeting, credit, and other critical financial topics. This will help build a foundation for better decision making and long-term financial independence. I’m also encouraged by the increased focus on financial wellness for adults. When individuals are given the tools and education to understand their finances, it builds confidence and reduces stress—not just for them, but for their families and communities. Empowering people at every stage of life with financial knowledge creates a ripple effect that strengthen communities over time.
What advice would you give to young women who want to make a difference?
My advice to young women who want to make a difference is to seek out a mentor early in their journey. A mentor can provide insight, resources, and guidance that help build confidence and open doors to opportunities they may not have considered. Throughout my own career, mentorship helped me recognize strengths I didn’t initially see in myself. It encouraged me to stay flexible, explore new paths, and approach challenges with creativity. As I mentored students, I tried to offer that same support by helping them build on their strengths and think beyond traditional boundaries. I also believe that qualities such as confidence, resilience, curiosity, and flexibility are essential for young women stepping into leadership roles. Most importantly, they should stay true to themselves.
What do you hope your impact on this community will be five or ten years from now?
Five to ten years from now, I hope my impact is reflected in a community that feels more confident, prepared, and empowered when it comes to financial decision making. I want financial education to be seen not as a one-time lesson, but as an essential life skill that supports long term stability and opportunity. I hope the students I’ve worked with carry these lessons into adulthood to make informed choices, build independence, and share that knowledge with their families. I also hope adults feel less overwhelmed and more confident because they have the tools to understand and manage their finances.
How has this community shaped who you are and the work you do?
Community involvement and giving back has always been an important part of who I am. When I got married and started a family, my husband and I stayed actively involved in everything our children were involved in including scouts, church, school programs and youth sports. I also learned early on that community means supporting one another, especially in times of need, and that has directly shaped my work as a Financial Education Program Manager. It drives my commitment to providing financial education tools and resources to help others. I’m active in local service as a board member at the Perry County Literacy Council, serve on several guidance and occupational advisory boards at local school districts, and the Business in Education Committee at the Carlisle Chamber.
What obstacles have you faced, and how did you push through them?
One of the greatest obstacles I’ve faced was a cancer diagnosis that required five years of treatment. That challenge was unexpected and life altering. During that time, I leaned heavily on my faith and the support of family, friends, and neighbors, which reinforced the importance of community and connection. Those experiences changed my perspective. They made me more empathetic, more grounded, and more focused on what truly matters. I learned not to sweat the small stuff and to approach every day as a blessing and every challenge with gratitude and determination. Ultimately, those obstacles strengthened me personally and professionally, and they continue to shape how I serve others in my personal life and through my work in financial education.