Folsom, CA (June 30, 2026) |
Sacramento River Cats’ mascot Dinger traded the ball field for SAFE Credit Union’s branch in Lincoln Friday to celebrate employees and the credit union’s partnership with the region’s Triple-A minor league baseball team. Video for media: 1, 2, 3, 4
“Our Lincoln team earned special recognition during SAFE's Summer Kids Days (June 15-30), and Dinger was here to help celebrate their achievement,” says SAFE Credit Union Vice President Retail Branches Janine Southwick.
During his visit, Dinger brought his Sutter Health Park crowd antics while “working” at the branch, including "staffing" a teller window.
“We were so excited to have him visit and to recognize the branch team's exceptional efforts in creating memorable experiences for our younger members,” Southwick added.
Dinger gave high fives all around and handed out swag and goodies to kids at the credit union. SAFE offers checking accounts to children as young as 6 years old. With SAFE kids checking accounts, kids get their very own tap-to-pay debit card and parents get easy ways to monitor their kids’ accounts and transfer funds.
“He’s cool – chill,” Aubree Grice, 12, of Lincoln said of Dinger, adding she liked how he danced. “He’s a better dancer than me.”
“He was really funny,” said Emma Arnold, 10, also of Lincoln. “(I liked) how he reacted to people and dogs,” Arnold added, referring to when Dinger “hid” from a service animal at the branch.
For Yuvraaj Singh, 10, of Rocklin, the fact that Dinger is a baseball player, like himself, was a plus. “He was like giving everyone high- fives and fist bumps,” the Pony Ball All Star League pitcher said. “He was a lot of fun – all of the dance moves he was doing.”
In May, SAFE Credit Union announced it had entered into a partnership with the A’s and Sacramento River Cats for each of the teams’ 2026 season. The partnership affirms the credit union’s commitment to supporting the economic growth of the region.
"SAFE is really excited about our partnership with the Sacramento A's and River Cats this season,” says SAFE Credit Union Chief Operating Officer Tiffani Vargas. “Investing in our community feels great and providing discounts to the teams' home games at Sutter Heath Park this season is a value-add we are happy to offer our members."
Under the new partnership, SAFE serves as the Presenting Partner for a River Cats game each month at Sutter Health Park, including ticket giveaways, promotions and in-ballpark engagement. With the A’s, SAFE is the Presenting Partner for every “Sacramento Saturdays” home game at Sutter Health Park this season.
Throughout the 2026 MLB season, SAFE members receive a 15% discount to A’s home games and 20% discount to River Cats home games.
An upcoming “SAFE Member Night” at an A’s game with unique experiences like first pitch and batting practice opportunities for SAFE members is also scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15.
Lincoln's SAFE Branch Manager Radha Bains said her staff was "thrilled" to visit with Dinger. "It's so great to have this event for our members and the Lincoln community and it's also wonderful to celebrate the hard work of our team," she said.
For more information about the event or to interview SAFE Credit Union COO Tiffani Vargas, VP Retail Branches Janine Southwick, or Branch Manager Radha Bains contact SAFE Credit Union Senior Communications and Public Relations Specialist Robyn Eifertsen at robyn.slagle-eifertsen@safecu.
For more information about the Sacramento River Cats and mascot Dinger, contact Communications Coordinator Riley Hallinan rhallinan@rivercats.com.
