Lake Charles, LA (April 22, 2026) |
Southwest Louisiana Credit Union (SWLACU) announced a new partnership with My First Nest Egg, a family-first financial literacy program designed to help children build strong money habits early. The collaboration expands SWLACU’s commitment to serving families across Southwest Louisiana by providing free, age-appropriate tools that make building healthy financial skills simple—at home, in classrooms, and throughout the community.
Rooted in the belief that financial confidence begins in childhood, SWLACU is introducing a fully branded, co-hosted version of the My First Nest Egg platform for its members. Families will gain access to interactive lessons, chore and allowance tools, goal-setting challenges, and classroom-ready resources designed to help children ages 3–13 learn foundational money skills in ways that are practical, engaging, and consistent over time.
“Our mission of Financial Empowerment for All means just that — ALL,” said Malana LaCombe, Director of Financial Coaching at Southwest Louisiana Credit Union. “We have a commitment to empowering our youngest members with the tools and knowledge to help them learn and grow into responsible and savvy spenders and savers. In addition to all the youth learning tools you’ve come to love from Southwest Louisiana Credit Union, we are thrilled to partner with My First Nest Egg to deliver more in-depth and engaging financial education resources aimed at helping our youngest members make smart money moves from an early age. We believe that teaching financial responsibility to our youth not only benefits them individually, but also helps build stronger, more resilient communities.”
As a member-owned financial cooperative and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Southwest Louisiana Credit Union delivers on its mission of “Financial Empowerment for All” and its vision of “Eliminating Poverty in our Community” through financial education, community service, and meeting the evolving needs of its members. For more than 70 years, SWLACU has helped members achieve their family and financial goals — and this new partnership extends that impact to the next generation.
Co-founded by two mothers and former attorneys, Nicolle Hood and Annie Shoen, My First Nest Egg was created to address the shortage of engaging, age-appropriate financial education resources for children. The program transforms complex money concepts into bite-sized, psychology-backed learning experiences that help kids build confidence around saving, spending, earning, and giving.
“At My First Nest Egg, we believe financial education works best when it’s accessible, joyful, and woven into everyday life,” said Nicolle Hood, Co-Founder & CEO of My First Nest Egg. “Southwest Louisiana Credit Union’s commitment to financial empowerment and community impact makes this partnership especially meaningful. Together, we’re equipping families with practical tools that help children build confidence and lifelong financial habits.”