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There’s only one full week left until the launch of Credit Union Youth Month! Does your credit union have a plan to promote this year’s theme—Save Away for a Rainy Day? Engaging in Credit Union Youth Month activities provides your credit union with opportunities to promote your offerings, as well as foster financial education contingencies with your members and community.
To help your credit union tailor your efforts to younger members during Credit Union Youth Month, we encourage you to join with our League in promoting the theme “Save Away for a Rainy Day” because when kids learn about the importance of saving money for the future, they are laying the foundation for financial success! To echo this concept in your activities, the League has created a number of materials for your credit union to use.
With these League-created resources, your credit union can offer parents tips on communicating with their children about the importance of saving money. You can spread the word on social media with turnkey messaging. You can also engage young credit union members by having them complete a financial education-themed coloring page, crossword puzzle, and word search. Other ideas to celebrate Credit Union Youth Month include:
- Offer a match on the members’ initial youth savings account deposit.
- Offer a free gift to any youth member who opens a new account or makes a deposit into their existing account.
- Offer a drawing for youth members who open a new account and make a deposit into their existing account. Examples include movie tickets, admission to a local children’s museum, gift cards, etc.
- Offer a new youth member goodie bag that includes credit union promotional items and other treats.
- Using the Maine Credit Unions Curriculum, volunteer to offer financial education lesson plans to elementary or middle school students.
- Host a chapter-led Financial Fitness Fair at a high school(s).
- Host a financial education workshop in-branch, in your local community center, at the library, etc.
- Offer your credit union as an elementary/primary school field trip destination.
- Pitch a public service announcement about National Financial Literacy Month/Credit Union Youth Month to your local television, newspaper, and radio outlets to drive awareness of the importance of teaching children about savings.
- Incorporate Credit Union Youth Month at existing community events in April. Distribute the materials and highlight the importance of saving.
- Look for community events or organizations that target families. Consider proposing a partnership with your local children’s museum, aquarium, library, and/or other like-minded organizations that appeal to families.
- Sponsor an essay or art contest for young members. Along with a prize, publish the winning entries in your newsletter and/or in your local newspaper.
If you have success engaging children or parents during Credit Union Youth Month through another means of communication or activity, share your success stories with the League!
If you have any questions about promoting financial wellness, or to inquire about Credit Union Youth Month, Financial Fitness Fairs, or the Maine Credit Unions’ Curriculum program, please email Jake Holmes at jholmes@mainecul.org.
Happy National Credit Union Youth Month!