RALEIGH, NC (May 12, 2015) – Each year during April’s Financial Literacy Month, State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) features a Youth Saving Challenge contest to encourage and emphasize the benefits of saving to its youngest members. With a fun Challenge theme of “Dinosoar into Savings,” over 17,500 FAT CAT and teen Zard members soared to great heights this year, saving nearly $3.2 million during the contest week of April 20-24th. Youth members who made a deposit into their share account during the week-long event were automatically entered in a random drawing for one FAT CAT and one Zard member to win the grand prize of an HP Stream 11 Laptop. This year’s Challenge resulted in the opening of over 600 new youth accounts.
SECU employees statewide promoted the campaign with creative dinsosaur displays and provided youngsters with themed games, puzzles and coloring sheets to engage youth in financial education activities. Credit Union branches also held various youth appreciation events and gave financial literacy presentations at local schools and branches using SECU’s FAT CAT program for children 12 and under, and the Biz Kid$ and NEFE (National Endowment for Financial Education) curricula for teens. To add a little extra excitement, each of the cooperative’s branches hosted their own giveaway of a dinosaur kite, resulting in 254 youth members netting a prize. SECU currently serves over 230,000 FAT CAT and Zard members with more than $166 million in savings.
“The Youth Saving Challenge is a fun campaign that provides a positive educational experience for youth and added savings towards their future,” said Brea Hull, Vice President of SECU’s King branch. “SECU members young and old enjoy the creative displays and festivities we offer during the Challenge Week and parents are happy their children are interested in learning about money and why it’s important to begin saving at an early age.”
Winners of the HP Stream 11 Laptops will be published on SECU youth websites, www.cufatcats.org and www.teenzard.org, as well as in the FAT CAT Paw Prints and Zard Money Matterz newsletters upon official member confirmation.
About SECU
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for almost 78 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trusts, estate planning and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves nearly 2 million members through 254 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Contact Centers and a website, www.ncsecu.org.